High-Stakes Contest: Prominent Candidates Vie for 26 Seats in J&K’s Second Election Phase
In the second phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Over 25.78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 assembly constituencies. The second phase of the Legislative Assembly will cover 26 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across six districts of J&K, including Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir Division, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu Division.
The second phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will see some of the most prominent faces in fray including the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah, APNI Party chief Altaf Bukhari, Congress state president Tariq Hameed Karra, Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi of PDP and Ravindra Raina, state president BJP.
Beerwah Budgam
1. Omar Abdullah (NC)
2. Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi (PDP)
Central Shalteng
1. Tariq Hameed Karra (Cong)
2. Muhammad Irafn Shah (Independent) NC Rebel
3. Abdul Qayum Bhat (PDP)
Eidgah
1. Arif Majeed Pampore (BJP)
2. Mohammad Khurshid Alam (PDP)
3. Mubarik Gul (NC)
Channa Pora
1. Altaf Bukhari (Apni Party)
2. Mohammed Iqbal Trumboo (PDP)
3. Mushtaq Guroo (NC)
Ganderbal
1. Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (IND)
2. Omar Abudllah (NC)
3. Ishfaq Ahmed Sheikh (IND)
4. Bashir Ahmad Mir (PDP)
Habba Kadal
1. Arif Irshad Laigroo (PDP)
2. Sanjay Saraj (RLJP)
3. Muzzafar Shah (ANC)
4. Ashok Kumar Bhat (BJP)
5. Shameena Firdous (NC)
In Kashmir division, 15 Assembly Constituencies are up for election, viz., Kangan, Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, 26-Central Shalteng, Budgam; Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-I-Sharief and Chadoora. Whereas in Jammu division, 11 Assembly Constituencies which include Gulabgarh, Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote- Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri, Budhal, Thannamandi, Surankote, Poonch Havel and Mendhar will go to polls.
According to the latest electoral rolls, 25,78,099 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballot in this phase, comprising 13,12,730 lakh male voters, 12,65,316 lakh female voters and 53 third-gender voters. Underlining the significance of the role played by the youth of Jammu and Kashmir in strengthening the democracy, as many as 1,20,612 lakh voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in phase II of the Assembly Elections. Among these, 11,294 are male and 10,065 are female first-time voters.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3,502 polling stations with 100 per cent webcasting across 26 Assembly Constituencies. These include 1,056 Urban Polling stations and 2,446 Rural Polling stations.
To enhance voter participation, 157 special polling stations have been established in the second phase including 26 polling booths managed by women as Pink Polling Stations, 26 polling stations manned by specially-abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 Border polling stations, 26 green polling stations and 22 Unique Polling stations. The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm IST Source
