Jammu and Kashmir Records 54% Voter Turnout in Second Polling Phase

Voter turnout in Jammu and Kashmir's second phase of polling reached 54%, with over 25 lakh eligible voters participating. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need to restore statehood before elections and vowed that the INDIA bloc would pressurise the Centre to achieve this goal.

The second phase of polling in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir saw a 54 percent voter turnout till 5 PM, according to the Election Commission of India. Voting began at 7 AM on Wednesday, with over 25 lakh eligible voters participating to decide the fate of 239 candidates across 26 constituencies in six districts.

Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, reaffirmed on Wednesday that the opposition will push the Centre to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. Addressing a public rally in Sopore, Gandhi criticised the decision to downgrade the state, calling it an injustice. He pledged that the INDIA bloc would fight for restoring statehood.

'The first and foremost issue is regarding your statehood,' Gandhi said, highlighting that this was the first time in history a state had been demoted to a Union Territory. He assured that the INDIA Alliance would pressurise Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament to reinstate the state's status. Gandhi added that if this was not achieved, the INDIA bloc would restore it upon forming the central government.

Rahul Gandhi's rally occurred concurrently with the second polling phase in Jammu and Kashmir, which is being held after a decade. The final phase is scheduled for October 1, with vote counting set for October 8. (ANI)