Over 25.78 Lakh Voters to Decide Fate of 239 Candidates in Second Phase of J&K Assembly Elections

Srinagar, September 23: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir announced on Monday that over 25.78 lakh voters will determine the outcome for 239 candidates in the second phase of the General Elections to the Legislative Assembly, scheduled for September 25, 2024.

The second phase will cover 26 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir, including Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam in Kashmir Division, and Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch in Jammu Division.

In Kashmir Division, 15 ACs are set for elections: 17-Kangan (ST), 18-Ganderbal, 19-Hazratbal, 20-Khanyar, 21-Habbakadal, 22-Lal Chowk, 23-Channapora, 24-Zadibal, 25-Eidgah, 26-Central Shalteng, 27-Budgam, 28-Beerwah, 29-Khansahib, 30-Chrar-I-Sharief, and 31-Chadoora. Meanwhile, in Jammu Division, 11 ACs will go to the polls: 56-Gulabgarh (ST), 57-Reasi, 58-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, 83-Kalakote-Sunderbani, 84-Nowshera, 85-Rajouri (ST), 86-Budhal (ST), 87-Thannamandi (ST), 88-Surankote (ST), 89-Poonch Haveli, and 90-Mendhar (ST).

According to the latest electoral rolls, 25,78,099 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, including 13,12,730 male voters, 12,65,316 female voters, and 53 third-gender voters. Notably, 1,20,612 voters aged 18 to 19 are participating in phase-II, with 11,294 male and 10,065 female first-time voters.

Additionally, 19,201 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 20,880 voters above the age of 85 will participate in this phase. The distribution of candidates includes 93 in Srinagar district, 46 in Budgam district, 34 in Rajouri district, 25 in Poonch district, 21 in Ganderbal district, and 20 in Reasi district.

Key candidate figures in Reasi district are 6 in Gulabgarh (ST) AC, 7 in Reasi AC, and 7 in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi AC. In Rajouri district, 11 candidates are contesting in Kalakote-Sunderbani AC, 5 in Nowshera AC, 8 in Rajouri (ST) AC, 4 in Budhal (ST) AC, and 6 in Thannamandi (ST) AC.

In Poonch district, 8 candidates are competing in Surankote (ST) AC, 8 in Poonch Haveli AC, and 9 in Mendhar (ST) AC. Ganderbal district has 6 candidates in Kangan (ST) AC and 15 in Ganderbal AC. In Srinagar district, 13 candidates are running in Hazratbal AC, 10 in Khanyar AC, 16 in Habbakadal AC, 10 in Lal Chowk AC, 8 in Channapora AC, 10 in Zadibal AC, 13 in Eidgah AC, and 13 in Central Shalteng AC.

Budgam district features 8 candidates in Budgam AC, 12 in Beerwah AC, 10 in Khansahib AC, 10 in Chrar-I-Sharief AC, and 6 in Chadoora AC.

Srinagar district has a total of 7,76,674 registered voters, including 3,87,722 males, 3,88,922 females, and 30 transgender voters across eight Assembly constituencies, with 932 polling stations. Rajouri has 4,92,008 electorates with 745 polling stations, and Budgam district, with 5,11,864 voters, has 639 polling stations. Poonch district, with 3,52,330 voters, will have 483 polling stations, while Reasi district, with 2,37,205 voters, will have 436 polling stations. Ganderbal district, with 2,08,018 voters, will have 267 polling stations.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3,502 polling stations with 100% webcasting for transparent elections, including 1056 Urban Polling stations and 2446 Rural Polling stations. Additionally, 157 Special polling stations have been set up, including 26 Pink Polling Stations, 26 polling stations managed by specially-abled persons, 26 manned by youth, 31 Border polling stations, 26 green polling stations, and 22 Unique Polling stations.

Voting will take place from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.