Jammu and Kashmir Phase 3 Elections Live Updates: Over 65% voter turnout recorded till 5pm in the third and final phase

National Conference candidate from Sopore, Irshad Rasool Kar, casts his vote in the third and last phase of Assembly elections today.
Speaking to ANI, Irshad Rasool Kar, said, "People believe in the democratic process and want solutions to their issues through voting. My agendas are development and fighting for our rights. I urge people to vote to strengthen the democratic setup and National Conference."

Irshad Rasool Kar, former PDP district president of Baramulla, joined the National Conference in presence of party president Farooq Abdullah in 2019.

He had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls as an independent candidate from the Sopore constituency in Baramulla district after he was denied a ticket by the Congress.

Son of Baramulla MP Rashid Engineer, Abrar said, "The election that is taking place after 10 years is a very big thing. We are getting this opportunity to elect our representative and our party has tried to put forth our views before the people. I think this is a baseless allegation that we are 'B' team of the BJP. BJP kept him (Rashid Engineer) in jail for 5 years, tortured him, then how can he be the B team of BJP? Our identity which has been snatched from us should be given back, whether it is Article 370 or 35A, should be restored because it is our right..."

On the third phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Kumar said, "Complete arrangements have been made at the polling stations...about 12% voting has been done till 9 am. Voting is going on peacefully everywhere."

Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) President Sheikh Abdul Rashid alias Engineer Rashid on Tuesday dismissed speculation about aligning with the BJP and asserted that the main aim of his party is to restrore peace in Kashmir.

"Why will I join hands with the BJP? Power is a very small thing for me. I was an independent MLA and I would have joined any party. If power had been my priority I would have joined hands with PM Modi. Many people have died in Kashmir. My biggest concern is to make sure that these killings should stop," Sheikh Abdul Rashid said.

"Priority is how the leadership will work after getting the mandate of the public. Will they, like the traditional parties PDP, JKNC, INC, and BJP after winning elections roam like VVIPs...Kashmir has to go beyond that...Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) will aim to bring permanent peace to Kashmir," he added.

Engineer Rashid said that the recent increase in voter turnout in Kashmir, attributing it to the state's repression

He emphasized that the people of Kashmir are eager for change and wish to express their feelings through democratic means.

"The voting percentage has increased because people have been victims of state repression...the voice of the people has been suppressed since the PDP came to power in 2014. People want to express their feelings and they want change because they have understood that they can achieve something only through democratic means. Violence has no place in society...the people of Kashmir have always believed in democracy. They also wanted a democratic solution to the Kashmir issue. I hope an era of reconciliation will begin after the voting," Rashid said.

11.60% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

Bandipore-11.64%
Baramulla-8.89%
Jammu-11.46%
Kathua-13.09%
Kupwara-11.27%
Samba-13.31%
Udhampur-14.23%

On the third phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir, State BJP President and candidate from Nowshera Assembly seat Ravinder Raina said, "A large number of people are voting in the last phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir... The people of Jammu and Kashmir have participated wholeheartedly in this festival of democracy. These elections have been conducted very well."

Taking to X, Priyanka said, " My brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir,

Today is the third and last phase of voting. I request all of you to participate enthusiastically in this festival of democracy. Vote in large numbers for democracy, for your rights, for livelihood and employment, for your governance in your state. Choose a government that works for you, for the future of your children and for Jammu and Kashmir and makes you strong."

Taking to X, Kharge said, " As voting for the third phase of the Jammu and Kashmir elections commences, I urge the people in these 40 Assembly seats to exercise their Democratic rights in large numbers.

This is the final chance to teach a lesson to those who snatched statehood from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Remember, that a single vote can change your destiny and usher in a brighter future, which secures your Constitutional rights.

A single vote is valuable enough to ensure better employment opportunities for the young, take on the corrupt, safeguard your land rights and ensure progress and prosperity.

We welcome the first time voters, for the future course for Jammu and Kashmir shall be decided by their participation.

Once again, I request you to join the voting queue.

Jai Hind"

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."

In the third and final phase of the Assembly election, as Jammu and Kashmir's 40 constituencies prepare to go to the polls today on Tuesday, election officers in the region have introduced pink polling stations specifically designed to attract women voters.
These pink polling stations are managed entirely by female officers.

"In Udhampur district, there are four assembly constituencies, each hosting one pink polling station operated by women," Deputy Commissioner Udhampur and District Election Officer Saloni Rai told ANI.

"The initiative serves two purposes: firstly, to promote women's empowerment, and secondly, to encourage more women to vote," she added.

In anticipation of the election, the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) and Quick Response Teams (QRTs) have been deployed throughout Udhampur district.

Udhampur SSP Amod Ashok Nagpure stated that measures have been implemented district-wide to ensure a peaceful and smooth election.

"With polling scheduled for October 1 in Udhampur, the polling parties were dispatched today. The Udhampur police are dedicated to ensuring a tranquil and orderly election process. Quick Response Teams (QRTs) and CAPF personnel are stationed throughout the district, which comprises 654 polling booths. Special night QRTs and night domination measures are also

Voting for the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections has commenced. Eligible voters in 40 constituencies across seven districts of the Union Territory are participating today. Among these constituencies, 24 are located in the Jammu division, while 16 are in the Kashmir region.

As Kashmir prepares for the third and final phase of assembly elections on October 1, garland sellers in Srinagar are experiencing a remarkable boom in business. With political parties ramping up their campaign activities, garlands have become a hot commodity, flying off the shelves in key markets such as Maharaja Bazar, Bohri Kadal, and Koker Bazar. Local vendors said that the demand for garlands has surged significantly since the election process began, marking a notable shift after a decade of political silence in Jammu and Kashmir.

JKNC has fielded Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, PDP has fielded Darshan Kumar Magotra and BJP has fielded Sham Lal Sharma from this seat

Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district, which comprises four assembly constituencies, is set to witness a fierce multi-cornered contest between the BJP, the Congress, and J&K National Panthers Party (JKNPP). The four assembly seats in the district include Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, and Ramnagar which is a reserved constituency. While BJP candidate and former minister Pawan Kumar Gupta is fighting to retain the traditional Udhampur West seat that his family has won three times in nine elections, party candidate and former MLA R S Pathania is facing rebellion from Pawan Khajuria and Balwan Singh as independents to win the new Udhampur East seat.

The authorities have ramped up security measures in Sopore, a city located in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, as the region prepares for the third and concluding phase of the assembly elections, which are slated to be held on October 1.

According to Divya D, the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Sopore, comprehensive arrangements have been implemented at all polling stations in compliance with the guidelines set forth by the Election Commission of India (ECI). "The third phase of elections is set to take place in Sopore and the entire North Kashmir. We have set up a very strong security grid here," the SSP stated to ANI.

The Jammu-Kashmir State Election Commission suspended 23 government officials and seized a total of Rs 130 crores through enforcement agencies in violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) guidelines during the Jammu-Kashmir assembly polls. As per the state election commission office, 20 employees had also been transferred from their incumbent offices to offices in other tehsils and districts against whom complaints were registered for acting in favour of a political party.

The Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir is all geared up for polls during the third and final phase of Assembly Elections on October 01. The 704 polling parties for 704 polling booths have been dispatched to their respective stations with EVMs and VVPATs, all under strict security measures. The district comprises six Assembly Constituencies (ACs) of Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua and Hiranagar with a total of 5,06,679 electorate, among which 2,65,420 are male voters, 2,41,256 are female and 3 are third gender.

The intense campaigning for the third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election concluded on Sunday evening, with major political parties, particularly the BJP, Congress, NC and PDP, engaging in fierce exchanges over critical issues, including Pakistan, Article 370, terrorism and reservation. Voting for this crucial phase, covering 40 Assembly segments across seven districts -- Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in the Jammu region and Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north Kashmir -- is scheduled for October 1.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Jammu and Kashmir, P K Pole, announced that disciplinary action has been taken against government employees for their involvement in political activities during the ongoing assembly elections. The move aims to maintain the integrity and impartiality of the electoral process in the Union Territory.

"Taking cognizance of participation of government employees in election campaigning and related political activities, 23 officials were suspended besides disengaging six contractual and ad hoc employees for violating Model code of conduct (MCC) guidelines," Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P K Pole said.

The security arrangements for the Baramulla Assembly Constituency, which is set to vote in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections on October 1, were overseen by the Jammu and Kashmir police and other security forces on Sunday. Maqsood Ul Zaman, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Baramulla, visited the constituency and expressed his satisfaction with the security measures in place, which adhere to the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community exercise their voting rights in the assembly, urban local bodies, and panchayat elections this year. This opportunity was granted to them following the abrogation of Article 370, which had previously limited their participation in the democratic process.

Ahead of the third and final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the electoral authorities have deployed more than 20,000 polling personnel across seven districts. This crucial phase will determine the political future of 415 candidates, among whom are two former deputy chief ministers, Tara Chand and Muzaffar Beig.

The campaigning for the concluding phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, which holds significant importance, came to an end on Sunday evening. In the third phase, voters will cast their ballots for 40 constituencies, with 24 located in the Jammu division and the rest situated in Kashmir.

This election is noteworthy as it is the first one to take place in the region in ten years, and it follows the revocation of "Article 370 in August 2019." The contest for the 90 seats across the former state is being fought by multiple parties, making it a highly competitive race.