'Bumper Voting Dismisses Parties Which Sympathise With Stone-Pelters, Terrorists': PM Modi On 61 Per Cent Polling In J&K

After the first phase of voting for Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections concluded with over 61 per cent polling on Wednesday (18 September), Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Srinagar.

Praising the high voter turnout, Modi said, "Kishtwar saw over 80 per cent voting, Doda recorded above 71 per cent. These figures break previous records in several constituencies."

The lowest voting in the first phase was in Pulwama at 46.65 per cent, while all other districts recorded a voter turnout of over 55 per cent, with highest voting in Kishtwar. On average, voter turnout was 61.13 per cent.

Buoyed by this, Modi said, "The bumper voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections has rejected the parties that sympathise with stone pelting and terrorism."

He attributed Jammu and Kashmir's underdevelopment to three families. While he did not explicitly named them, it is understood that he was talking about Abdullahs of National Conference (NC), Muftis of PDP and Gandhis of Congress.

He claimed that while the NC, PDP and the Congress always divided people, the BJP is uniting them. "Three families have undermined 'Jamhooriyat' and 'Kashmiriyat' in Kashmir's politics," he alleged.

The second phase of the election is scheduled for 25 September, while the voting for the final and the last phase will be held on 1 October. Result will be declared on 4 October.