Voters queued outside polling stations in India's Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to vote in the first provincial election being held in a decade in the Himalayan region that has grappled with years of militant violence.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized that the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are not about the victory of any political alliance but about ensuring the region's prosperity and peace.

KATRA: Asking people to cast their votes wisely in the ongoing Assembly polls that are linked to the “future of Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said they should ensure the political sunset of the Congress,

India’s troubled region of Jammu and Kashmir saw a brisk turnout amid tight security as voters cast their ballots on Wednesday in the first regional legislative elections in a decade. The region, which has seen years of separatist violence and is at the centre of a dispute between India and Pakistan,

Voter turnout in the recent Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections was 61%, marginally up from 60.19% in 2014. Despite minor fluctuations, polling was peaceful across all districts. This marked the first assembly polls since Article 370's revocation and the union territory's establishment.

As the first phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir begins on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged voters to come out in huge numbers to strengthen the festival of democracy.

In the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly polls held on September 18, a voter turnout of over 61% was recorded, mirroring the 2014 elections. Kishtwar district led with an impressive 80% turnout.

The initial phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly elections concluded with a voter turnout of 58.85 per cent, with Kishtwar leading at 77 per cent and Pulwama trailing at just over 46 per cent. This election is significant as it is the first since Article 370 was revoked.