SRINAGAR/JAMMU: J&K witnessed a peaceful conclusion to its first assembly elections in a decade, with a voter turnout of nearly 69% in the third and final phase held in seven districts under tight security Tuesday. Long queues were seen outside polling stations, with 415 candidates competing across 40 constituencies — 24 in Jammu region and 16 in north Kashmir.
The final voting percentage could increase once data from 5,060 polling stations and postal ballots are included. Chhamb constituency in Jammu topped with 77% voting while Gurez in Kashmir recorded 76%. Sopore and Baramulla, known for election boycotts in the past, also recorded the highest turnout in three decades.
The previous two phases saw turnouts of 61% in 24 constituencies on Sept 18 and 57% in 26 seats on Sept 25. The votes will be counted on Oct 8.
“Scenes of voters patiently waiting in lines at polling stations, set against the scenic backdrop of the region, highlighted the people’s strong faith in democracy,” EC said in an official statement.
Among the enthusiastic voters was J&K police DSP Sukhbir Singh, who was wounded in a gunfight with terrorists in Kathua district on Sept 29. He and his wife voted at a polling station in Udhampur.
This election marked a historic first for West Pakistani Refugees, Valmiki Samaj , and Gorkha community members, who were able to vote after gaining citizenship rights following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. These communities, which comprise around 1.5 lakh people, reside mainly in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts.
The Valmikis, brought from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in 1957 for sanitation work, had been denied voting rights and other opportunities due to the lack of domicile certificates in J&K.
Gharu Bhati, 45, a Valmiki who voted for the first time in Jammu, described the moment as a “festival” for his community, celebrating their newfound rights after 75 years. “Two generations of our people have lived without these rights, but justice prevailed with the abrogation of Article 370,” he said. “We were once a dark spot on J&K’s justice and constitutional framework. Today, as part of the largest democracy in the world, Valmiki Samaj, West Pakistani Refugees, and Gorkha communities have finally gained their constitutional rights.”
The Gorkhas, who had been called to J&K to maintain law and order but were deprived of voting rights, also celebrated their first vote. Swarn Singh, a first-time voter, said: “The feeling of voting is unmatched.” His community marked the occasion with a lively procession to the polling station, accompanied by a band and traditional drums.
Union minister Jitendra Singh, who represents Udhampur in the Lok Sabha, accused Congress and National Conference (NC) of misusing Article 370 to deny rights to these communities. “If you go abroad, you are getting citizenship rights after 10 years, but these communities were deprived of their rights since they settled in J&K after Partition,” he said. He also pointed out that NC and Congress had continued the six-year tenure for the assembly using Article 370, even after the rest of the country reverted to a five-year term.
Another notable development in this election was the participation of people tied to the separatist movement. Hafiz Mohammad Sikander, an independent candidate and former member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, recounted the challenges of campaigning while wearing a GPS tracker due to legal restrictions, with locals fearing the device.
He voted in Bandipora after years of abstaining from elections in protest against the alleged 1987 rigging. “Now, we consider participating in elections a much-needed process, as we want to serve the people democratically,” Sikander said.
Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid dismissed speculation of a potential alliance with BJP. “I was MLA twice and could have joined any party then, but didn’t. Why should I side with BJP now?” he said, attributing the rise in voter turnout to people fed up with state repression since “PDP formed the govt in 2014”. His Awami Ittehad Party has fielded 34 independents.
Voter enthusiasm was particularly high in villages near the border with Pakistan. EC had set up 29 polling stations near the LOC and the International Border.
Amit Kumar, a resident of Chak Mala village in Akhnor sector of Jammu, voted for peace and development alongside his nearly 100-year-old grandmother. “There is no fear of shelling these days,” he said. In nearby Khour, Amrik Singh, 53, voted for the first time in his village, just 10km from the International Border. His village use to come under frequent artillery fire. “But we can now move freely close to the zero line and cultivate our fields near the fence,” he said.
This final phase was crucial for both BJP and opposition parties. In 2014, BJP won 25 seats, all in Jammu region. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh expressed optimism about his party’s chances. “I am glad to see huge voter participation across the board. This is a slap on the face of NC, Congress, and PDP who used to win through boycott politics,” Chugh said. “BJP will form govt after Oct 8 and our priority will be to provide jobs to the youth.”
The final voting percentage could increase once data from 5,060 polling stations and postal ballots are included. Chhamb constituency in Jammu topped with 77% voting while Gurez in Kashmir recorded 76%. Sopore and Baramulla, known for election boycotts in the past, also recorded the highest turnout in three decades.
The previous two phases saw turnouts of 61% in 24 constituencies on Sept 18 and 57% in 26 seats on Sept 25. The votes will be counted on Oct 8.
“Scenes of voters patiently waiting in lines at polling stations, set against the scenic backdrop of the region, highlighted the people’s strong faith in democracy,” EC said in an official statement.
Among the enthusiastic voters was J&K police DSP Sukhbir Singh, who was wounded in a gunfight with terrorists in Kathua district on Sept 29. He and his wife voted at a polling station in Udhampur.
This election marked a historic first for West Pakistani Refugees, Valmiki Samaj , and Gorkha community members, who were able to vote after gaining citizenship rights following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. These communities, which comprise around 1.5 lakh people, reside mainly in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts.
The Valmikis, brought from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab in 1957 for sanitation work, had been denied voting rights and other opportunities due to the lack of domicile certificates in J&K.
Gharu Bhati, 45, a Valmiki who voted for the first time in Jammu, described the moment as a “festival” for his community, celebrating their newfound rights after 75 years. “Two generations of our people have lived without these rights, but justice prevailed with the abrogation of Article 370,” he said. “We were once a dark spot on J&K’s justice and constitutional framework. Today, as part of the largest democracy in the world, Valmiki Samaj, West Pakistani Refugees, and Gorkha communities have finally gained their constitutional rights.”
The Gorkhas, who had been called to J&K to maintain law and order but were deprived of voting rights, also celebrated their first vote. Swarn Singh, a first-time voter, said: “The feeling of voting is unmatched.” His community marked the occasion with a lively procession to the polling station, accompanied by a band and traditional drums.
Union minister Jitendra Singh, who represents Udhampur in the Lok Sabha, accused Congress and National Conference (NC) of misusing Article 370 to deny rights to these communities. “If you go abroad, you are getting citizenship rights after 10 years, but these communities were deprived of their rights since they settled in J&K after Partition,” he said. He also pointed out that NC and Congress had continued the six-year tenure for the assembly using Article 370, even after the rest of the country reverted to a five-year term.
Another notable development in this election was the participation of people tied to the separatist movement. Hafiz Mohammad Sikander, an independent candidate and former member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, recounted the challenges of campaigning while wearing a GPS tracker due to legal restrictions, with locals fearing the device.
He voted in Bandipora after years of abstaining from elections in protest against the alleged 1987 rigging. “Now, we consider participating in elections a much-needed process, as we want to serve the people democratically,” Sikander said.
Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid dismissed speculation of a potential alliance with BJP. “I was MLA twice and could have joined any party then, but didn’t. Why should I side with BJP now?” he said, attributing the rise in voter turnout to people fed up with state repression since “PDP formed the govt in 2014”. His Awami Ittehad Party has fielded 34 independents.
Voter enthusiasm was particularly high in villages near the border with Pakistan. EC had set up 29 polling stations near the LOC and the International Border.
Amit Kumar, a resident of Chak Mala village in Akhnor sector of Jammu, voted for peace and development alongside his nearly 100-year-old grandmother. “There is no fear of shelling these days,” he said. In nearby Khour, Amrik Singh, 53, voted for the first time in his village, just 10km from the International Border. His village use to come under frequent artillery fire. “But we can now move freely close to the zero line and cultivate our fields near the fence,” he said.
This final phase was crucial for both BJP and opposition parties. In 2014, BJP won 25 seats, all in Jammu region. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh expressed optimism about his party’s chances. “I am glad to see huge voter participation across the board. This is a slap on the face of NC, Congress, and PDP who used to win through boycott politics,” Chugh said. “BJP will form govt after Oct 8 and our priority will be to provide jobs to the youth.”
