Voting in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections for 26 seats across six districts commenced on Wednesday, September 25. Voters have been lining up at polling stations, with significant attention on key constituencies like Ganderbal and Rajouri, which have experienced security challenges in recent years.
Over 2.5 million voters are expected to cast their ballots, determining the fate of 239 candidates, including 79 from the Pir Panjal region of Jammu. This election marks a historic moment as it is the first Assembly election since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, and the first in Jammu and Kashmir in a decade.
The first phase of voting, held on September 18 across 24 constituencies, saw a voter turnout of 61.13%. The third and final phase is scheduled for October 1, with the vote counting set to take place on October 8.
In this phase, prominent candidates include Omar Abdullah of the National Conference, contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam. BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir Chief, Ravinder Raina, is also a key figure, defending his seat in Nowshera, Rajouri, which he has represented for the last ten years.
To ensure smooth voting, the Election Commission has set up 157 special polling stations, including 26 pink stations run by women, 26 managed by specially abled persons, and several others focusing on youth and border areas.
Amid the political tension, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in Srinagar, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Gandhi remarked that the PM no longer possesses the confidence he once projected, a claim swiftly dismissed by the BJP as baseless.
The elections are shaping up to be a significant contest, with alliances formed between the Congress and National Conference on one side, and the BJP and PDP playing key roles on the other.
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