Voting in the first phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will take place today. The 24 assembly constituencies across seven districts of the Union Territory will vote for the first time in an assembly election in 10 years. This is the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, which gave the erstwhile state special status, in 2019.
This is also the first time that Jammu and Kashmir will see an assembly election as a Union Territory. When Article 370 was abrogated, the state was divided into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Over 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents, in eight assembly segments in three districts of Jammu region and 16 in four districts of Kashmir valley.
Polling will be held in four seats in Pulwama, two in Shopian, three in Kulgam, seven in Anantnag, three in Kishtwar, three in Doda, and two each in Ramban and Banihal.
