Wed Sep 18 03:07:55 UTC 2024: ## Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections Begin After 10 Years
**Jammu and Kashmir, India -** Voting commenced on Wednesday, September 18th, for the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. This marks the first election for the region as a Union Territory and the first assembly election in a decade.
The first phase of the three-phase election saw 24 constituencies in seven districts going to the polls. A total of 23.27 lakh voters cast their ballots for 219 candidates, including 90 independents, amid tight security measures. The Election Commission reported that a total of 14,000 polling staff supervised the process at 3,276 polling stations.
Prominent candidates in the fray include Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (CPI(M)), Ghulam Ahmad Mir (AICC), Sakina Itoo (National Conference), Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri (PDP), and former ministers Sajjad Kitchloo and Khalid Najib Suharwardy (NC).
The remaining two phases of the election are scheduled for September 25th and October 1st, with the counting of votes slated for October 8th.
First Piper 