The second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections kicked off on Wednesday, with over 2.5 million voters expected to cast their ballots across 26 constituencies. The election, spread across six districts, is crucial as key political figures like former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and BJP J&K President Ravinder Raina are among the candidates.
Early Voter Turnout
By 9:30 AM, the overall voter turnout stood at 10.22%. Srinagar recorded the lowest turnout at 4.70%, while Poonch registered the highest at 14.41%.
Key Candidates and Constituencies
In this phase, 239 candidates are contesting. Key figures include Omar Abdullah, running from Ganderbal and Budgam, and Ravinder Raina, aiming to retain his seat in Nowshera. Other notable candidates include JKPCC President Tariq Hamid Karra.
The six districts involved are split between three in the Jammu division and three in the Kashmir Valley. Voting is taking place in constituencies like Hazratbal, Khanyar, and Lal Chowk in Srinagar, as well as Budgam, Beerwah, and Khansahib in Budgam district. The Jammu division includes important seats like Nowshera, Rajouri, and Poonch Haveli.
Security Measures
To ensure a peaceful voting process, a robust multi-tier security setup is in place, involving local police, armed forces, and paramilitary units. A total of 3,502 polling stations have been established, including 26 'pink polling stations' operated by women and 26 polling stations manned by specially-abled individuals.
Upcoming Phases
In the first phase of voting held on September 18, a significant turnout of over 61% was recorded. The third phase is scheduled for October 1, and final election results will be declared on October 8.
District-wise Voter Turnout (as of 9:30 AM):
Voting for this phase will continue until 6 PM today.
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