LIVE | J&K Assembly polls final phase: 56% voter turnout till 3 pm

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the people of Jammu and Kashmir should exercise their franchise to form a government that would keep away terrorism, separatism, corruption and dynastic politics.

Shah also said Jammu and Kashmir needed a government that was visionary and could take strong decisions for security, peace and stability.

“Today, the people voting in Jammu and Kashmir in the last phase should use their power of vote to form a government that keeps Jammu and Kashmir away from terrorism, separatism, corruption and dynastic politics and is determined to protect the rights of every section,” he said in a post in Hindi on X.

The home minister asked the people to cast their vote for tourism, education, employment and all-round development in Jammu and Kashmir.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday urged the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in large numbers in the third and final phase of the assembly polls in the union territory and “teach a lesson” to those who snatched statehood from them.

In a post on 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, the Congress president said.

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

“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,” Kharge said.

“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,” he said.

BSP president Mayawati has appealed to all voters in Jammu and Kashmir to cast their votes for the third and final phase of the assembly elections “to ensure that the right people are in power”.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is among the parties contesting the assembly polls being held after almost a decade in Jammu and Kashmir and the first time since abrogation of Article 370.

“An appeal to all voters to vote enthusiastically in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections being held today, so that in this election being held after a long time, the right people can have a share in power, for which a lot of voting is necessary. First vote, then refreshment,” Mayawati posted on X in Hindi.

Long denied the right to vote, members of the Valmiki community exercised their franchise for the first time in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on Tuesday and termed it as a “historic moment”.

The Valmikis were originally brought to J-K in 1957 from Punjab’s Gurdaspur district for sanitation work by the state government.

“I am a first-time voter at the age of 45. In my lifetime. We are thrilled and filled with enthusiasm to participate in J-K’s assembly elections for the first time. It is like a big festival for us,” Gharu Bhati, who voted at a polling station in Jammu, said.

Bhati, who has led efforts for over 15 years to secure citizenship rights for his community said, “This is a festival for the entire Valmiki community. We have voters as old as 80 and as young as 18. Two generations before us were denied this right, but justice prevailed when Article 370 was abrogated, granting us citizenship of J-K.”

“For decades, our community, brought here for sanitation work, was denied basic rights, including the right to vote and citizenship of J-K. It is a historic moment for the entire Valmiki community,” he added.

The Valmikis, along with West Pakistan refugees and Gurkha communities, comprise around 1.5 lakh people. They reside in various parts of Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts, particularly in border areas.

Approximately 12,000 members of the community residing in Gandhi Nagar and Dogra Hall areas were previously deprived voting rights, education, job opportunities, and land ownership due to absence of a state subject certificate.

“Two generations of our people have lived without these rights, but justice prevailed with the abrogation of Article 370. We were once a dark spot on Jammu and Kashmir's justice and constitutional framework. Today, as part of the largest democracy in the world, Valmiki Samaaj, West Pakistan refugees, and Gurkha communities have finally gained their constitutional rights after 75 years,” Bhati said.

With the revocation of Article 370, both West Pakistan refugees and Valmikis can now buy land, apply for jobs, and participate in elections in J-K. The Valmiki community can explore alternative livelihoods as well.

Standing in a long queue, 19-year-old Komal said, “I am fortunate to vote. My 74-year-old grandmother is also voting today. I'm happy that the era of injustice and discrimination has ended.” Another community member, 22-year-old Aikta Mathoo, along with his 53-year-old father, a sanitation worker, cast his vote at the Gandhi Nagar polling station.

“We both are voting for the first time. My father failed to vote in past elections. He could not get a better job here. Now I aspire to become a judge. The credit goes to the central government, who abrogated Article 370 and made us citizens in J-K,” he said.

The primary demand of the Valmiki community is improvement in their living conditions.