New Delhi: The stage is set for the third and final phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, in which 40 seats will go to polls. The high-level election campaign ended on Sunday evening, setting the stage for crucial voting.
The constituencies are divided between the two regions, with 24 in Jammu and the rest in Kashmir. This election is significant because it is the first in a decade and the first after the repeal of Article 370 In August 2019.
national conference And Congress has formed an alliance, while People’s Democratic Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are the other major contenders.
Throughout the election campaign, there have been heated debates on key issues such as Pakistan, Article 370, terrorism and reservations by major political parties, especially BJP, Congress, NC and PDP.
High-profile leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been actively campaigning on the ground for weeks. , underlining the importance of this election.
Crucial final phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections will shape the future of 415 candidates
As the final phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections approaches, election authorities have deployed a huge workforce of over 20,000 polling staff across seven districts. This crucial phase will determine the political future of 415 candidates, including prominent personalities like former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig.
An important aspect of this election is the participation of communities who were previously excluded from the electoral process. The abrogation of Article 370 has made it possible to include West Pakistani refugees, Valmiki Samaj and Gorkha community in assembly, urban local bodies and panchayat elections.
Voting time and special arrangements
The voting process will start at 7 am and end at 6 pm. Before the actual voting begins, a mock poll will be conducted in the presence of polling agents to ensure smooth operation of the voting machines.
To ensure a comfortable and accessible voting experience, each polling station will be equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF). These facilities include provision of drinking water, electricity, toilets, ramps, furniture and a verandah or shed for shelter. Additionally, wheelchairs will be made available to assist those in need. The ballot unit for visually impaired voters will also have a list of contesting candidates in Braille script.
In some cases, separate queues will be arranged for senior citizens and specially-abled persons, allowing them to cast their vote with greater ease and priority.
39 lakh voters in the last phase in Jammu and Kashmir
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) announced that a total of 39,18,220 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming elections. The voter demographics include 20,09,033 male voters, 19,09,130 female voters and 57 third gender voters.
Additionally, the CEO informed that 1.94 lakh youth aged between 18 to 19 years are among the eligible voters in this phase. Additionally, 35,860 persons with disabilities (PWD) and 32,953 elderly voters above 85 years of age are also entitled to exercise their democratic right to vote.
The final phase will be conducted in 40 constituencies
The final phase of elections will be held in 40 assembly constituencies, including 24 located in the Jammu region and 16 in the Kashmir Valley.
In Jammu division, Jammu district has the highest number of 11 blocks, which include Bishnah-SC, Suchetgarh-SC, RS Pura, Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Akhnoor-SC and Chhamb. , Kathua district has six seats, namely Bani, Bilwar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua-SC and Hiranagar. Udhampur district has four constituencies, including Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Cheni and Ramnagar-SC, while Samba district has three seats: Ramgarh-SC, Samba and Vijaypur.
In Kashmir division, Kupwara district consists of 16 assembly constituencies, which are “Karna, Tregham, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara and Langate”. Baramulla district includes Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri and Pattan, while Bandipora district includes Sonawari, Bandipora, Gurez (ST).
To facilitate the voting process, the authorities have set up a total of 5,060 polling stations in the districts participating in this phase of the elections.
Extensive security for final elections in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu region’s Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Anand Jain has assured the public that adequate security measures have been taken to guarantee a “terrorism-free and peaceful” polling process in the areas earmarked for participation in the upcoming elections. ,
This morning a large number of election officials left from their respective district headquarters carrying necessary voting material. They are expected to reach their designated polling stations by evening with tight security arrangements to ensure smooth conduct of the electoral process.
major competitors
The electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir has many notable personalities competing for seats in the upcoming elections. People’s Conference president and former minister Sajjad Lone is contesting from two seats in Kupwara, while National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh is contesting from Chenani seat in Udhampur.
Other prominent candidates include former ministers Raman Bhalla (RS Pura), Usman Majeed (Bandipora), Nazir Ahmed Khan (Gurez), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Basharat Bukhari (Wagura-Kreeri), Imran Ansari (Pattan). Ghulam Hasan Mir (Gulmarg), Chaudhary Lal Singh (Basohli), Rajeev Jasrotia (Jasrota), Manohar Lal Sharma (Bilawar), Sham Lal Sharma and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra (Jammu North), Mula Ram (Marh), Chander Prakash Ganga. And Manjeet Singh (Vijapur). These experienced politicians are considered to be strong contenders in their respective constituencies.
The first phase of assembly elections took place on 18 September, followed by a second round on 25 September in six districts: Ganderbal, Budgam and Srinagar in the Kashmir region, and Rajouri, Reasi and Poonch in the Jammu region.
The counting process is scheduled for October 8. Voter participation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir reached 61 percent in the first phase of voting and 57.31 percent in the second phase of voting in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, according to an Election Commission of India announcement on Friday. ,
