Srinagar: The stage is set for the first major democratic exercise in a decade in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, with 24 of its total 90 constituencies going to the hustings in round one of the three-phase Assembly elections.
Total voters
Altogether 23.27 lakh voters are eligible to press the EVM button on the morrow, determining the fate of 219 candidates spread across seven districts.
This is the first time Assembly election is being held in the J&K since the abboration of Article 370 and the conversion of the state into a Union Territory in August 2019.
Large turnout expected
A large turnout is expected, as many voters seem to have decided against poll boycott - a trend seen in previous elections in Kashmir.
In the lead-up to the election, Kashmir saw unprecedented campaigning, with candidates and political parties engaging with the public without fear, a first since the eruption of violence in the region.
“Boycotting elections has politically disempowered us, but now I will vote on Wednesday to ensure we have our own government in J&K,” said Nissar Ahmed, 45, a resident of Tral in Pulwama district, a former separatist stronghold. “The government may be weak after the election, but we need to start somewhere.”
Last election
The last assembly election in J&K was held in 2014, resulting in the formation of a coalition government between the BJP and PDP, which collapsed in 2018 when the BJP withdrew its support. (with Agency inputs)
