Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 Live Updates: Voting begins in 24 seats; ‘strengthen the democracy,’ says Modi

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Election Commission of India said. As many as 219 candidates are competing in the first phase.

Overall, 23,27,580 electors are eligible to vote, according to the poll panel. Overall 14,000 polling staff are overseeing the process at 3,276 polling stations in the first phase.Time to strengthen democracy: PM ModiPrime Minister Narendra Modi urged all those in constituencies going to the polls in the first phase in Jammu and Kashmir 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," Modi said in a post on X.Important Constituencies The constituencies that are voting today include Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam – all in South Kashmir, once a militancy hot bed.In Jammu region, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal seats are voting today.Congress-NC allianceThe Congress and the NC are fighting the elections in alliance. The PDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), People’s Conference, to name a few, are other parties in the fray.