J&K: First-Time Voters Enthusiastic To Take Part In Festival Of Democracy

J&K: First-Time Voters Enthusiastic To Take Part In Festival Of Democracy

In Jammu and Kashmir, the youth, particularly the first-time voters are enthusiastic to take part in the festival of democracy slated to commence from the next month. Elaborate security arrangements are being put in place by the Election Commission of India to ensure free, fair and smooth polling in the entire UT for five Lok Sabha constituencies.

Like in other parts of the country, Lok Sabha election-related activities are gaining momentum in Jammu and Kashmir, as well. The voting in the Union Territory will be held in five phases. The first phase of voting will be held on April 19 for the Udhampur Parliamentary seat. The elections in the second phase will be held for the Jammu parliamentary constituency on April 26.

Voting in the Kashmir valley will start in the third phase as polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat will be held on May 7. Subsequently, on May 13 polls will be held for the Srinagar LS constituency in the fourth phase while polls for the Baramulla LS constituency will be held on May 20 in the fifth phase.

So far, nominations for the Udhampur Parliamentary seat have been filed by 15 candidates from major parties including BJP, Congress, DPAP and others. Senior BJP Leader, Dr Jitendra Singh, and Congress Leader, Choudhary Lal Singh are some of the big wigs that will battle it out in the first phase. Notification for the second phase was issued on March 28, and many regional as well as national parties besides independents are expected to submit their papers for the Jammu LS constituency.

There are 86 lakh 94 thousand and 992 registered voters in the UT, about eight lakh more voters than in the 2019 elections. Pertinently, there are three lakh 40 thousand first-time voters and 42 lakh 59 thousand 82 female voters. A total of 11 thousand 629 polling stations have been set up across the UT where assured minimum facilities are ensured by the ECI.