11% voting recorded till 9 am in first phase of assembly polls in J&K

Srinagar, Sept 18: A collective percentage of 11% voter turnout has been recorded till 9:00 am in the first phase of Assembly elections in J&K, official data said Wednesday.

Assembly polls in the Union Territory are being held after a gap of 10 years and will be conducted in three phases with first phase underway today.

The voting began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements.

The maximum voting percentage among the 16 assembly segments in the Kashmir valley was recorded in Shopian at 13 per cent. It was followed by Pahalgam at 12.56 per cent, Kokernag (ST) at 12 per cent and Srigufwara-Bijbehara at 11.60 per cent.

The lowest -- 6 per cent -- was recorded in Anantnag, they said.

The remaining constituencies in the valley polled around 10 per cent votes since 7 am.

The polls are being held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370. Polling is underway in 24 constituencies spread over seven districts of the Union Territory.

Second phase will be held on September 25 and the final phase will be held on October 1, while the counting will be on October 8.

The voter turnout is expected to be large in the region this time, owing to the long period of direct rule by centre.

The election this time is different, as this is the first election to be held after the state of J&K was downgraded to a Union Territory and does not consist of the Ladakh province.