Polling for the first phase of Lok Sabha elections began at 7 am on Thursday morning for Baramulla and Jammu Lok Sabha seats. While a heavy turnout was recorded in Jammu, a moderate turnout was witnessed in Baramulla amid a shutdown call issued by the separatist leadership.
11 am: 24 per cent polling recorded in all the constituencies of the two Lok Sabha seats
9 am: 10 per cent polling recorded in all the constituencies of the two Lok Sabha seats
7am: Polling begins
Baramulla constituency will send a first time parliamentarian to the Lok Sabha as none of the nine candidates in the fray have earlier been elected to either Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha.
Those in the fray include Muhammad Akbar Lone of National Conference, Farooq Ahmad Mir of Congress, Raja Aijaz Ali of People’s Conference, Mohammad Maqbool War of BJP, Jahangir Khan of NPP, Abdul Qayoom Wani of PDP and independent candidates Javid Ahmad Qureshi, Syed Najeeb Shah Naqvi and Abdul Rashid Sheikh.
To all the voters in Baramulla, Kupwara & Bandipore districts please go out & vote. Your vote is an opportunity to choose a representative who will espouse our causes & fight our fights in the Lok Sabha for the next 5 years so choose wisely. #VoteHal #halhihalhai
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 11, 2019
Baramulla Lok Sabha is spread over 15 assembly segments in three districts of north Kashmir.
To all my @JKNC_ colleagues & workers in Jammu, Rajouri & Poonch districts please vote & use your vote to send a message against communalism, against fear & against the broken promises of the last 5 years. Vote for Raman Bhalla & send him to the Lok Sabha to fight for J&K.
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 11, 2019
Authorities have established 1749 polling stations at 1387 locations for over 13.12 lakh voters to exercise their franchise.
Mobile Internet suspended in north and south Kashmir “as a precautionary measure”
Shutdown called by Joint Resistance Leadership disrupts life in Kashmir. All shops and other business establishments are closed while transport is off the roads.
A voter at polling booth in Jammu was manhandled by the BSF because he refused to cast his vote for BJP. Using armed forces at polling stations to coerce people to vote for the BJP shows their desperation & hunger to usurp power by hook or crook. pic.twitter.com/Hmr8zocQ44
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 11, 2019