Jammu And Kashmir Records 68.72% Voters' Turnout In Last Phase: 10 Points

The third and final phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls on Tuesday saw a voter turnout of 68.72 per cent, surpassing the Lok Sabha poll figure in the corresponding seven districts, with the traditional boycott bastions of Sopore and Baramulla recording the highest turnout in an election in the last three decades.

According to Election Commission (EC) data, the overall polling percentage in the three phases was 63.45 per cent.

In the recently held parliamentary polls, the turnout in the seven districts that went to polls in the final phase on Tuesday was recorded at 66.78 per cent.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters to come forward and cast their votes to "make the festival of democracy a success". "I am confident that apart from the young friends who are going to vote for the first time, women power will also participate in the voting in large numbers," he said in an online post.

In the first phase of election held on September 18, the voting figure was high. The turnout for the 24 constituencies across seven districts where polls were held, according to figures from the Election Commission was 61.13 per cent. It was still lower than the record figure of 2014, which was 66 per cent. In the second phase of the election, a voter turnout of 56 per cent was recorded -- lower than 57.31 per cent of 2014.

The election, held after a decade, is the first in the Union Territory, where restoration of statehood has emerged as the biggest issue. This election is also a first in terms of inclusiveness, with many former separatists in fray. Among them are members of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, the Islamic outfit which, along with Hurriyat Conference, routinely gave the election boycott calls in the Valley. Its candidates are contesting as Independents.

While the BJP has already promised that statehood will be restored, the Congress and the National Conference, which are contesting the polls as an alliance, said ensuring that it is done tops their agenda. 

In 2014, the BJP formed a ruling alliance with the PDP after the election results presented a hung house. But the alliance of the two ideologically mismatched parties was short-lived and Jammu and Kashmir came under President's Rule in 2018.

This time, Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a triangular contest between the BJP, Mehbooba Mufti's People's Democratic Party and the National Conference-Congress alliance.

The first two rounds of elections were held on September 18 and 25 and counting of votes will be taken up on October 8.