America, Norway and Singapore… Diplomats from 15 countries visited Jammu and Kashmir to observe the voting process

New Delhi : Senior diplomats from 15 countries, including the US, Norway and Singapore, visited Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday to observe the three-phase elections for 90 assembly seats. This high-level delegation included diplomats from the Delhi-based embassies of the US, Mexico, Guyana, South Korea, Somalia, Panama, Singapore, Nigeria, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Tanzania, Rwanda, Algeria and the Philippines.

Officials said that this high-level delegation of senior diplomats visited polling stations in Ompora in Budgam district soon after arriving in the valley. After this, the delegation went to Amira Kadal and SP College in Chinar Bagh under Lal Bagh constituency. Here at SP College, the delegation also got a chance to see the special ‘Pink’ polling station operated entirely by women.

This pink polling station is being run entirely by women. Election officials present at the polling stations informed the delegation about the voting process. This is probably the first time since the rise of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir that foreign observers have been allowed to observe the elections.

The Centre had invited foreign representatives to showcase the peaceful election process after the good voter turnout in the Lok Sabha elections held earlier this year. Elections are being held in Jammu and Kashmir in three phases. Voting for 24 seats was held in the first phase on September 18. Votes were cast for 26 seats in the second phase on Wednesday. Voting for 40 seats will be held in the third phase on October 1. The counting of votes cast in all three phases will be done on October 8.