Polls largely peaceful in J&K, Omar Abdullah warns against division of votes

Voting in the first phase of the historic three-phase election in Jammu and Kashmir is currently underway under stringent security measures. Twenty-four Assembly constituencies, spread across seven districts on either side of the Pir Panjal mountain range, are voting today for the first time in 10 years.
The voter turnout till 11 am stood at 26.72 per cent.
This is also the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir after the Centre abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019, stripping the then state’s special status and reorganising it into Union Territories.
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has warned voters against Independent candidates trying to “fragment votes and divide people”.
“People will have to keep it (a huge number of independent candidates contesting) in mind, because most of these candidates are in Kashmir. It seems it is an attempt to fragment votes and divide people. I hope the voters will remain cautious of these and avoid fragmentation of their votes in this election,” news agency quoted Abdullah as saying.
He also expressed hopes for people to vote in favour of an alliance between his National Conference (NC) party and Congress.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged first-time voters to exercise their franchise in an effort to “strengthen the festival of democracy”.
“As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. I particularly call upon young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise,” he tweeted.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi urged the voters to choose the INDIA opposition alliance, saying it would restore rights, bring employment opportunities, make women stronger, end the “injustice era” and work towards making Jammu and Kashmir prosperous again.
“Come out of your homes in large numbers and exercise your democratic right – vote for INDIA,” he tweeted.
The polls are being held in an apparently transformed atmosphere in the region following the Article 370 abrogation, as key regional parties–Farooq Abdullah’s NC and Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP–and national parties–Congress and BJP–aim for bigger gains in this crucial election.
Players like Engineer Rashid’s Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party, which struck an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, and Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference are also in the fray. Additionally, some separatist outfits are contesting as independents in many seats.
Key faces in this round include CPI(M)’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami from Kulgam, AICC General Secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir in Dooru, National Conference’s Sakina Itoo from Damhal Hajipora, PDP’s Sartaj Madni from Devsar, Iltija Mufti in Srigufwara-Bijbehara, and Abdul Rehman Veeri in Shangus-Anantnag.
The focus is on Pulwama and Srigufwara-Bijbehara, where PDP’s Waheed Para and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter
Iltija Mufti are contesting, respectively.
In the Jammu region, prominent figures include former ministers Sajjad Kitchloo (NC), Khalid Najid Suharwardy (NC), Vikar Rasool Wani (Congress), Abdul Majid Wani (DPAP), Sunil Sharma (BJP), Shakti Raj Parihar (Doda West), and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori.
Though NC and Congress are in an alliance, both parties have fielded candidates in Banihal, Bhaderwah, and Doda for a ‘friendly contest.’
In the first phase, over 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents. Of the 24 Assembly seats, eight are in the Jammu region and four in the Kashmir Valley.
According to the Election Commission (EC), a total of 23,27,580 electors are eligible to vote in Phase 1, comprising 11,76,462 male, 11,51,058 female, and 60 third-gender electors. A total of 14,000 polling staff will oversee the process at 3,276 polling stations, ensuring the smooth conduct of the polls.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the Assembly polls to ensure maximum voter turnout, said senior officer VK Birdi. The measures include multi-tier security from the Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF), Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, and J&K Police.
The second phase of voting will take place on September 25, and the third on October 1 and vote counting will be held on October 8.