Srinagar: Voting kicked off on Tuesday for the final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, marking a pivotal moment for the region as approximately 3.9 million voters prepare to cast their ballots.
415 candidates contesting on 40 seats
A total of 415 candidates are vying for seats across 40 assembly segments spanning seven districts, Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua in the Jammu region, alongside Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara in northern Kashmir.
Polling began at 7 AM and will continue until 6 PM, with results for all the three phases expected to be announced on October 8. This election represents the first assembly voting in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, making it a significant milestone in the region’s political landscape.
16 seats in Kashmir 24 in Jammu
In total, 16 seats in the Kashmir division are on the ballot today, Gurez (ST), Karnah, Kupwara, Langate, Lolab, Trehgam, Handwara, Uri, Baramulla, Sopore, Rafiabad, Gulmarg, Pattan, Sonawari, Wagoora-Kreeri, Bandipora.
While the Jammu division will see voting for 24 seats, Udhampur West, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar, Udhampur East, Ramgarh (SC), Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah (SC), Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Suchetgarh (SC), RS Pura, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC), Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, and Chhamb seat.
Key candidates in third phase
Notable candidates include former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig, alongside other prominent figures such as Taj Mohiuddin, Raman Bhalla, Basharat Bukhari and Sajad Lone (Chairman People’s Conference). The election is characterised by a multi-cornered contest, with the National Conference and Congress allied against major players like the People’s Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The assembly elections are the first in a decade for Jammu and Kashmir, following a two-phase voting process earlier in September, which saw a voter turnout of 61% in the first phase and 57.3% in the second, according to the Election Commission of India.
Security Beefed up
Security remains a top priority, with Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) and Quick Response Teams deployed in sensitive areas historically affected by terrorism, including Udhampur, Baramulla, Kathua, and Kupwara. Anand Jain, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for the Jammu zone, emphasised that extensive security measures have been established to ensure “terror-free and peaceful” elections in the region.
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