J&K Assembly polls phase-II: Campaigning ends, over 25.78 lakh voters to decide fate of 239 candidates

Srinagar, Sep 23: The campaigning for the phase-II of Jammu and Kashmir elections, slated to be held on September 25 (Wednesday), culminated on Monday with 26 Assembly segments set to go to polls where a total 25.78 lakh voters will cast their ballots.
A total of 240 candidates are in the electoral fray from across 26 constituencies in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The second phase is interesting in itself as the top leadership of four political parties including National Conference (NC), Apni Party (AP), Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are vying for the five different seats.
From NC, the party Vice Party Omar Abdullah is vying for two seats including Ganderbal and Budgam while Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari is contesting from Chanapora seat. Besides, BJP’s J&K unit president Ravinder Raina is contesting from Nowshehra and JKPCC Chief Tariq Hameed Karra is contesting from the Central-Shalteng seat.
Moreover, many prominent candidates including four-time MLAs, former ministers and former Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor and his deputy are also vying for the seats in Srinagar’s eight constituencies.
Pertinently, a total of 329 had filed their nomination papers for the phase-II of J&K elections while 62 among them got rejected and 27 individuals withdrew their papers.
At present, 239 candidates are contesting from 26 assembly segments, which include eight in Srinagar followed by five each in Rajouri and Budgam and three each in Poonch and Reasi. However, Ganderbal has only two assembly segments going to polls on Wednesday.
Across the six districts of Jammu and Kashmir going to polls on Wednesday, a total of 25,78,099 will decide the fate of the candidates. The electorates include 13,12,730 lakh male voters, 12,65,316 lakh female voters and 53 third-gender voters. As many as 1,20,612 lakh voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in phase-II of the Assembly Elections. Among these, 11,294 are male and 10,065 are female first-time voters.
The tight competition is expected at the multiple assembly constituencies.
All eyes are on the seats where the prominent candidates are in the electoral fray, who have majorly opted door-to-door campaigning in this election to woo the voters.
Only a few rallies and roadshows have been witnessed in this election unlike the past in Srinagar with most of the candidates knocking every single door in their respective constituencies to woo the voters in their favour.
To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3502 polling stations with 100% webcasting across 26 Assembly Constituencies. These include 1056 Urban Polling stations and 2446 Rural Polling stations.
To enhance voter participation, 157 Special polling stations have been established in second phase including 26 polling booths managed by women as Pink Polling Stations, 26 polling stations manned by specially abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 Border polling stations, 26 green polling stations and 22 Unique Polling stations.
The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm. (KNO)