Srinagar:

The second phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections saw a voter turnout of over 56 per cent on Wednesday, with the democratic exercise passing off peacefully amid tight security.

While there was significant participation in key constituencies in 26 seats spread over six districts with long queues of voters at polling stations since early morning, 20 of these segments recorded a marginally lower turnout than in the 2014 assembly elections, when the overall voting was 60 per cent.

The first phase of polling, held on September 18, saw an estimated 61.38 per cent voter turnout, while the final phase is set to take place on October 1 in the crucial elections being held after 10 years.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer P.K. Pole announced a preliminary turnout figure of 56.05 per cent, stating that it might change as polling continued in some areas, including Hazratbal and Reasi.

He emphasised that the election proceeded smoothly, with only minor incidents reported.

“There were some stray incidents, but there is no need for re-polling anywhere,” Pole stated during a press conference after polls closed at 6 PM.

The highest turnout was recorded in the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi constituency, with 79.95 per cent of registered voters exercising their franchise. Other notable turnout figures included Kangan (71.89 per cent), Gulabgarh (73.49 per cent), and Surankote (75.11 per cent).

The Election Commission had set up 3,502 polling stations across the region, including 1,056 urban and 2,446 rural stations, with a robust security presence to ensure a safe voting environment.

Over 15,000 personnel, including local police and central paramilitary forces, were deployed to maintain order at the polling sites.

This phase saw a delegation of 16 foreign diplomats, including representatives from the US, Norway, and Singapore, visiting the valley to observe the electoral process.

This marked the first instance of international observers being allowed to witness elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the onset of militancy in the region.

The delegation visited multiple polling stations and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections. US Deputy Chief of Mission Jorgan K. Andrews described the voting as “healthy and democratic,” noting the enthusiasm of voters after a decade-long pause in the electoral process.

“It is great to see the enthusiasm; it’s great to see Kashmiris out (and) voting after a pause for 10 years. We are very excited to see the results. It looks very healthy and very democratic,” Andrews told PTI Videos at a polling station here.

The US diplomat said the process here was similar to how it happens in his country.

The Ministry of External Affairs had invited diplomats from 16 countries to observe the exercise.

“They (diplomats) expressed overall satisfaction. Our officers explained to them about the overall process including arrangement,” Pole said.

However, the decision to invite foreign diplomats drew criticism from former chief minister Omar Abdullah, who questioned the necessity of foreign oversight in what he termed an internal matter.

Abdullah remarked, “When foreign governments comment, the Government of India says, ‘this is an internal matter for India,’ and now suddenly they want foreign observers to come and look at our elections.” He criticised the government for what he perceived as a “guided tour” approach and called for consistency in policy regarding foreign involvement in domestic affairs.

Members of the visiting delegation appreciated the electoral process, with some diplomats expressing admiration for initiatives like the all-female managed “Pink polling stations.” The delegation also interacted with local voters, who highlighted concerns about issues such as erratic electricity supply and rising bills.

“Electricity tariff meters have been installed. Now they say water consumption will also be metered,” a woman in her late 60s told a diplomat while waiting for her turn to vote at a polling station in the heart of Srinagar city.

While the woman refused to identify herself, she said she spoke her heart out hoping that there would be some relief for the poor people and that the “angrez” (foreigner) would take up the matter with the Centre.

South Korea diplomat Sang Woo Lim liked the idea of Pink polling station, an initiative of the Election Commission where polling stations are managed by all-female staff.

Singapore deputy head of the mission in Delhi Cheng Wei Wei Alice said it was wonderful to be part of the delegation observing the polls here. Alice said the delegates were “very thankful to the MEA for organising this trip and allowing us to visit the polling stations”.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir continue to attract attention both domestically and internationally, as the region navigates its complex political landscape.

In Srinagar district, 93 candidates are vying for votes, followed by 46 in Budgam, 34 in Rajouri, 25 in Poonch, 21 in Ganderbal, and 20 in Reasi.

Prominent faces in this electoral battle include former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is contesting from the Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies. Tariq Hamid Karra, the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), is running for the Central Shalteng seat.

Ravinder Raina, the chief of BJP’s J-K unit, aims to retain his Nowshera seat in Rajouri.

Other notable candidates include jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, also known as Barkati, contesting from Ganderbal and Beerwah, and Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari, who is contesting in Channapora.

Former ministers such as Ali Mohammad Sagar (Khanyar), Abdul Rahim Rather (Chrar-i-Sharief), Choudhary Zulfikar Ali (Budhal), and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari (Surankote) are also in the running, with Ali and Bukhari standing on BJP tickets this time around.

The counting of votes is on October 8. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Srinagar:

Radical jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay is set to take on former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah from the Ganderbal constituency in the upcoming Assembly elections. His nomination papers have been accepted from two assembly constituencies – Ganderbal and Beerwah. 

Omar Abdullah, however, on Friday alleged that the BJP and central government were putting up the jailed separatist against him so that he would be defeated in assembly elections.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the NC’s vice president was defeated by Engineer Rashid, who is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail on terror funding charges.

“Leaders in Delhi dislike me. But the fact that they hate me so much is getting evident to me. Why are candidates in jail only contesting against me,” Mr Abdullah said.

He said he now smells a rat even in Engineer Rashid’s Lok Sabha victory from the Baramulla parliament seat. 

“I never saw a plot in the victory of Engineer Rashid, who had contested elections earlier too. But when the news came about Sarjan Barkati contesting from Ganderbal, I could see a plot,” he said.

“Some agencies felt that I may also contest from Beerwah, where I won the last time. He (Barkati) was first asked to file from Ganderbal and then from Beerwah. I circumvented them and filed from Budgam instead of Beerwa” he said.

The separatist cleric, also known as Sarjan Barkati, was the face of 2016 violent agitations in Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in 2016.

In his speeches, he openly incited youth to pick up guns, asking them to become suicide bombers. He also used to say that guns were the only solution and called for attacks on symbols of India.

He was first arrested in 2016 and a case was filed against him under the Public Safety Act. He was again arrested last year and is facing charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

His wife is also in jail on terror funding charges.

New Delhi:

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday said it is a “good thing” that Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are participating in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir elections but fired a salvo at the banned group. While welcoming their participation into active politics, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir said that they would have to explain to the people of the union territory “why so much blood was in their hands”.

“It’s a good thing they are participating. Everyone should participate but the question would be asked why the region suffered for almost 30-40 years and what was achieved by their actions,” Omar Abdullah told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

The National Conference never backed out from participating in elections or being part of the democratic process, he said.

“We suffered because we always spoke about having a relationship with India we never spoke that the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is beyond the Indian constitution. We believe in what (former PM Atal Bihari) Vajpayee Ji used to say – insaniyat (humanity), jamhuriyat (democracy) kashmiriyat (Kashmiri culture),” he added.

He also said people who “brought so much suffering” to the people, who always said Jammu and Kashmir is “not part of India” are now willing to contest Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.

“But the question remains what did the blood bath achieve? So many houses got destroyed, and thousands of lives were lost. Our graveyards are full because of them,” Mr Abdullah said.

Although it would have been better if their ban would have been uplifted and they would have fought on their symbol, he added.

Jamaat cannot take part in the elections due to the ban imposed on it by the Union home ministry. It has not taken part in any elections after 1987.

On Article 370, J&K Elections

Speaking on the BJP’s charge that people came out in more numbers and participated in elections after the abrogation of Article 370, Omar Abdullah said that the two are not connected.

“Due to fear of guns, people were not participating in elections. Otherwise, all our elections before 1990 would not have been conducted. They were all successful,” he told NDTV.

“It’s not right to say that only after the abrogation of Article 370 people participated in elections. The only reason now that participation has increased is because now people with separatist mindset also want to contest elections,” he said.

Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Narendra Modi government on August 5, 2019, and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two UTs – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Restoration of Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood are among the National Conference’s 12 guarantees announced in its manifesto for the upcoming polls.

Mr Abdullah also promised the people of Jammu and Kashmir that their identity and their dignity would be restored soon.

“We will restore statehood no matter what. If they do not give it with their blessing, we will go to the Supreme Court and will take it,” he said.

Assembly polls are being held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370. The polls, which are the first in 10 years, will be held in three phases from September 18 to October 1. The counting of votes will be done on October 4.

On Mehbooba Mufti’s Charge

Omar Abdullah also countered the claim of People’s Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, who said that when they came to power with the BJP, they withdrew 12,000 cases against youngsters.

“What is she talking about? A case was filed against Sarjan Barkati (a cleric) under the PSA (Public Safety Act) by Mehbooba Mufti,” he said.

Mr Abdullah also said that they would remove the PSA from the state book if they came to power.

On Ms Mufti attacking him about their poll alliance with Congress and that there was no agenda between both parties, Mr Abdullah said, “Agenda for alliance or governance alliance only after elections are won. Her former colleague Altaf Bukhari has stated that the PDP and BJP had a relationship before the elections too and it’s only after the elections were over agenda for the alliance took shape. If we also get the opportunity to serve people, we will also come out with such a document,” he said.

On How Kashmir Politics Is Changing 

Omar Abdullah also spoke to NDTV on how politics in Kashmir is changing every day and small parties — which gained traction after 2019 — are slowly withering away like former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s party (Democratic Progressive Azad Party) and Apni Party. 

“I hope he (Mr Azad) gets well soon and gets back to active politics. But as far as his party is concerned, I sympathise with them. If some of them knew such a thing was likely to happen they would have jumped the ship and landed at either Congress or our doorstep,”
he said. 

While commenting on the Apni Party, he said there is a joke in Kashmir “ek pir and chaar mir”. Besides Apni Party chief Altaaf Bukhari, four Mirs are – one each from Tangmarg, Rafiabad, Pahalgam, and Sonawar.

On US Delegation Visiting Him

On meeting a delegation of US diplomats at his Gupkar residence earlier this month, Omar Abdullah said they wanted to know their viewpoint on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

“It’s then when I told them if things are better, then travel advisories should be diluted,” he said.

Mr Abdullah had called for a relook at travel advisories for Jammu and Kashmir to ease restrictions over visiting the union territory.

“I had done the same thing with Germany when I was the chief minister,” he said.

Srinagar:

J&K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) on Tuesday said that a total of 93,284 voters have been added in the Special Summary Revision across Jammu and Kashmir while the elector population ratio has improved from 0.59 to 0.60.

“The number of young voters in the 18 to 19 years age group has increased by 45,964, with 24,310 of them being women even as the overall number of women voters has also gone up by 51,142,” the CEO said.

He added that the total number of young electors in Jammu and Kashmir in the 18-29 age group stands at 25.34 Lakhs.

“The Special Summary of Photo Electoral Rolls with the qualifying date of July 1, 2024, was successfully completed in all twenty districts of Jammu and Kashmir. With a focus on ensuring accuracy, inclusivity, and purity of electoral rolls, the mammoth Special Summary Revision exercise has been completed successfully,” the CEO said.

He said that as per the Special Summary Revision-2024 completed with the publication of the final electoral roll, the total number of electors (voters) stands at 88.03 lakh. These include 44.89 lakh males, 43.13 lakh females and 168 third-gender electors.

The CEO also noted the special efforts made during the special summary revision exercise which has resulted in the improvement in the gender ratio of the electors by 2 points – going up from 959 to 961, demonstrating significant progress in efforts towards intensification of electoral inclusion of women.

He that the number of polling stations across Jammu and Kashmir has also seen an uptick. “The number of polling stations (PSs) in Jammu and Kashmir for the upcoming Assembly elections has increased from 11629 to 11838 and polling station locations (PSLs) from 8930 to 9168,” the CEO said.

The CEO informed that J&K has 83,191 registered Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) voters while the number of centenarian voters (of age over 100 years) stands at 2428.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)