Vote in large numbers: PM to voters as 1st phase polling begins in J&K

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged the citizens of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in “large numbers” and strengthen the “festival of democracy” as voting in the first phase of assembly elections began.
Taking to X, he particularly urged young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise.
“As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins, I urge all those in constituencies going to the polls 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,” the Prime Minister tweeted.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that only a government with an “iron will” can make Jammu and Kashmir terror free and speed up developmental work in the area.
“Only a government with an iron will can create a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir, protect the rights of the citizens there and speed up development work. Today, my appeal to the voters going to vote in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections is to vote in large numbers to form a government which is committed to education of the youth here, employment, empowerment of women and ending separatism and nepotism in the region,” Amit Shah tweeted.
“First vote, then refreshment,” the Union Home Minister added.
A video shared by PTI showed voters lining up outside a booth to cast their vote in Pulwama’s Naira.
The second phase of polls to elect members of the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will take place on September 25, while the third phase of polling will be held on October 1. The votes will be counted, and the results will be declared on October 8. In the first Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, over 23 lakh voters will choose from 219 candidates.
The prominent parties in the elections are Congress, the National Conference (NC), BJP and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The Congress and NC are fighting the polls as allies and announced their seat-sharing formula a few weeks ahead of the polls.