J&K Assembly Elections Phase 3 LIVE: 11.6% Voter Turnout In First Two Hours; 'Visionary Govt Needed', Says Amit Shah

• Bandipore- 11.64%

• Baramulla- 8.89%

• Jammu- 11.46%

• Kathua- 13.09%

• Kupwara- 11.27%

• Samba- 13.31%

• Udhampur- 14.23%

Commenting on the importance of the assembly election in the Union Territory, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) President Sheikh Abdul Rashid said, "This vote is not only important for me but for all Kashmiri people and the residents of Jammu and Kashmir. After 6 PM, Kashmiri voters will be powerless... Kashmiris, you have the opportunity until 6 PM today. This is not a normal election like other state elections. If you (people) want to come out of difficulties, you must think carefully and vote today so that we can tell the 140 crore people of India that Kashmir is not Modi's new Kashmir, and if a new Kashmir is to be built, it will be on our terms."

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday arrived at a polling booth in Bahu Assembly Constituency to cast his vote for the third and final phase of polling for J&K Assembly Elections 2024.

Commenting on people's enthusiasm as voting for the final phase is underway in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP candidate from Jammu North constituency Sham Lal Sharma said, "This is the biggest festival of democracy. People in J&K have been waiting for Assembly elections for a long time. The long queues outside polling stations are proof that people want change in J&K. I am confident that the people in 24 seats in the Jammu province are going to break the voting records of the last several years...I request the voters to chose the best candidates..."

As the third and final phase of elections began, PM Narendra Modi posted on X, "Today is the third and last round of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. I request all 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."

In a first, members of the Valmiki community did cast a vote for the first time at a polling booth in Jammu. "I am very happy... I am 50 but I am casting vote for the first time. Things are changing now," says a voter.

"It feels like a caged bird has been set free. Our community had no voting rights for the last 70 years. Valmiki community was kept away from voting process," says another voter.

People queue up at a polling station in Jammu to vote in the third & final phase of the Assembly elections today. Eligible voters in 40 constituencies across 7 districts of the Union Territory are exercising their franchise today.

As polling began for the final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party said, "There are some issues that have been ongoing since 1947, and everyone has different concerns. However, the current issues that have persisted for the last five years (in Jammu and Kahsmir) are related to statehood. Alongside this, another major issue is unemployment, especially affecting the educated youth. The future of our children is at risk," says

Security arrangements have been beefed up for the third and final phase of voting. Visuals from a polling booth set up at Government Higher Secondary School, Vijaypur, Samba.

Voters start to queue up outside a polling booth set up at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School, Langate, Kupwara, for third phase of voting.

Ahead of the third and final phase of the much awaited assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X saying, "Jammu and Kashmir needs a government that is visionary and can take strong decisions for security, peace and stability here. Today, the people voting here in the last phase should use their vote power to form a government that keeps Jammu and Kashmir away from terrorism, separatism, nepotism and corruption and is determined to protect the rights of every section. Cast a historic vote for tourism, education, employment and all-round development in Jammu and Kashmir."

Mock polling is underway at several polling booths including Baramulla, Bandipora, Kathua and other districts ahead of third phase voting today. While the first phase of voting took place on September 18, the second phase was conducted on September 25.

In Jammu, Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar, Ramgarh (SC), Samba and Vijaypur, Bishnah (SC). Suchetgarh (SC), R S Pura, Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC), and Chhamb will be heading to the polls.

In the Kashmir division, the voting will be held for the Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, and Gurez (ST) assembly constituencies.

• Jammu and Kashmir is all set to vote in the third and final phase of the Assembly elections on Tuesday, October 1.

• A total of 415 candidates from different political parties and independents are in the fray from across 40 seats that are set to go to polls today.

• Of the 40 seats going to polls on Thuesday, 16 fall in the Kashmir region while 24 lie in the Jammu province.

• Around 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to vote in the third phase of polling.

• Voting is scheduled to begin at 7 AM across 5,060 polling stations across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir.