Jammu and Kashmir went to the polls for the first time since 2014 on September 18. For the second phase on Wednesday, voting is being held for 26 assembly seats across six districts in the union territory.
After a voter turnout of 61.38 percent during the phase one polling, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are once again casting their votes all day across 26 constituencies. Key candidates in the fray include Omar Abdullah, Ravinder Raina and more.
Jammu and Kashmir went to the polls for the first time since 2014 on September 18. For the second phase on Wednesday, voting is being held for 26 assembly seats across six districts in the union territory.
Key candidates such as BJP Chief Ravinder Raina, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and 237 candidates are in the fray in the second round of voting.
The polling booths opened for the people of Jammu and Kashmir at 7 AM. Residents have time till 6 PM to cast their votes. A total of 3,502 polling booths have been set up across the 26 constituencies.
The voter turnout has increased to 36.93 percent till 1 PM in the second phase, an official said on Wednesday.
Based on the ECI data available, the highest voter turnout as been recorded at Reasi at 51.55 percent, following by Poonch at 49.94 percent. The lowest turnout has been recorded at Srinagar with 17.95 percent.
A total of 25.78 lakh eligible voters are participating in the three phases of the J&K assembly elections. In the first phase on September 18, the voter turnout stood at 61.38 per cent.
Voting is being be held across 26 constituencies during the second phase. From Srinagar, a total of eight seats are up for grabs, followed by five seats in Budgam district.
Five seats are up for the Rajouri district, three seats in Poonch district, two seats from the Ganderbal district and three seats from the Reasi district. The 26 constituencies heading to the polls are –
Kangan (ST)
Ganderbal
Hazratbal
Khanyar
Habbakadal
Lal Chowk
Channapora
Zadibal
Eidgah
Central Shalteng
Budgam
Beerwah
Khansahib
Chrar-i-Sharief
Chadoora
Gulabargh (ST)
Reasi
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
Kalakote-Sunderbani
Nowshera
Rajouri (ST)
Budhal (ST)
Thannamandi (ST)
Surankote (ST)
Poonch Haveli
Mendhar (ST)
During the second phase, a total of 239 candidates are contesting for the 26 assembly seats. This list of candidates includes former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Apni party president Altaf Bukhari is contesting from Channapora, former ministers Ali Sagar from Khanyar and Rahim Rather from Chrar-i-Sharief. Choudhary Zulfikar and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari is contesting the elections with a BJP ticket from Budhal and Surankote, respectively.
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being conducted for the first time after 2014. The people of the union territory will cast their votes in three phases held on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results will be counted and declared by the Election Commission of India on October 8, 2024.