New Delhi: Seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir, located on either side of Pir Panjal mountain range, will head to polling booths for the first time in 10 years for phase 1 polling of assembly elections today.Over 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents, who are running for 24 assembly segments - eight in three districts of Jammu region and 16 in four districts of Kashmir valley.This will be the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.Here are 10 big developments:
The Jammu and Kashmir police have made elaborate security arrangements for the assembly polls so that maximum number of people can exercise their right to vote. Over 23 lakh voters (23,27,580) are eligible to vote in phase 1. They comprise 1.23 lakh youth between the age 18 to 19 years, along with 28,309 Person with Disabilities (PwDs) and 15,774 senior citizens. A total of 14,000 polling staff will oversee the process at 3,276 polling stations, ensuring smooth conduct of the polls. Prominent candidates in first phase include CPI (M)'s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, National Conference's Sakina Itoo, and PDP’s Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri. PDP's Iltija Mufti, the third generation politician from her family, is contesting from Srigufwara-Bijbehara. She is in a triangular contest with NC's Bashir Ahmad Veeri and BJP's Sofi Mohammad Yousuf. CPI (M)'s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is seeking a fifth consecutive term from Kulgam segment. AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir is hoping for a third term from Dooru, while National Conference's Sakina Itoo is seeking another term from Damhal Hajipora. In Jammu, all eyes are on former ministers Sajjad Kitchloo (NC), Vikar Rasool Wani (Congress), Khalid Najid Suharwardy (NC), Abdul Majid Wani (DPAP), Sunil Sharma (BJP) and Shakti Raj Parihar (Doda west). Three-time MLA Ghulam Mohammad Saroori is fighting as an independent after he was denied ticket by DPAP which he had joined after quitting Congress in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad two years ago. Other prominent candidates in Jammu include BJP's young face Shagun Parihar, whose father Ajit Parihar and uncle Anil Parihar were killed by terrorists in November 2018, and Mehraj din Malik of AAP. Even as the National Conference (NC) and the Congress are in alliance, both the parties are lodged in a "friendly fight" in Banihal, Bhaderwah and Doda. 
