Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 Phase 1 Live Updates: In Jammu and Kashmir, the first phase of assembly elections has commenced today, with over 23 lakh voters ready to cast their ballots across 24 constituencies. This phase includes seven districts on either side of the Pir Panjal mountain range, marking their first participation in an assembly election in a decade. The Election Commission has established 3,276 polling stations, with 14,000 polling staff on hand to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process.
Key candidates in this phase include CPI (M)’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is seeking a fifth consecutive term from Kulgam, and PDP’s Iltija Mufti, who is involved in a high-profile triangular contest in Srigufwara-Bijbehara against NC’s Bashir Ahmad Veeri and BJP’s Sofi Mohammad Yousuf. Other notable contenders are AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, aiming for his third term from Dooru, and BJP’s Sunil Sharma in Jammu.
The elections feature a number of contested and controversial races. PDP’s Waheed Para, currently facing accusations in a terror case, is contesting against former party member Mohammad Khalil Bandh (now NC) and ex-Jamaat-e-Islami member Talat Majid Alie in Pulwama. Additionally, Jammu showcases a mix of traditional and rebel candidates from various parties, including independent candidates like Ghulam Mohammad Saroori and BJP rebel Rakesh Goswami.