Srinagar- With the stage set for 3rd and final phase of General Elections to Legislative Assembly, scheduled for October 01, the fate of 415 candidates will be determined by over 39.18 lakh voters.
The third phase of the Legislative Assembly Elections 2024 will cover 40 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across seven districts of Jammu & Kashmir. These include Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora in the Kashmir Division while as Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba in the Jammu Division.
Baramulla Assembly Segment of North Kashmir leads with the highest 25 candidates in poll fray, while Akhnoor assembly constituency of Jammu district will witness a contest among three candidates only during this phase.
In Kashmir Division, 16 Assembly Constituencies comprising Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora and Gurez (ST), and in Jammu Division 24 Assembly Constituencies comprising Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar, Ramgarh (SC), Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah (SC), Suchetgarh (SC), R.S.Pura–Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC) and Chhamb will go to the polls in this phase.
According to the latest electoral rolls, 39,18,220 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, comprising 20,09,033 male voters, 19,09,130 female voters and 57 third-gender voters.
Underlining the significance of the role to be played by youth of Jammu and Kashmir in strengthening the democracy, as many as 1.94 lakh youths voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in the 3rd phase of Assembly Election.
This phase will also see participation from 35,860 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 32,953 voters above the age of 85.
To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle free electoral participation, Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 5,060 polling stations with 100% webcasting across 40 Assembly Constituencies. These include 974 Urban Polling Stations and 4,086 Rural Polling Stations.
To enhance voter participation, 240 special polling stations have been established across 7 districts in this phase, including 50 polling stations managed by women, known as Pink polling stations, 43 polling stations manned by specially abled persons and 40 polling stations manned by youth. Also, there will be 45 green polling stations in order to spread messages about environmental concern, 29 polling stations are established near the LOC/ IB for residents residing there and 33 Unique Polling stations.
A total of 24 special Polling Stations have been established for Migrant Voters of Kashmir Division, which includes 19 Special Polling Stations in Jammu, 4 in Delhi and 1 in Udhampur District. Special Polling Station-wise extract voter list will be with BLOs.
A team of four officials, including Presiding Officer will be stationed in every polling station. In total, more than 20,000 Polling staff will be deployed on duty for the 3rd phase of the Assembly election.
The Kupwara district has recorded a total of 5,42,535 registered voters, including 2,71,601 males, 2,70,924 females, and 10 transgender across six Assembly constituencies. A total of 622 polling stations are spread across these constituencies of the district, ensuring that every registered voter has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
The Baramulla district comprises seven Assembly Constituencies with 7,24,335 electorates which includes 3,65,074 males, 3,59,249 females, and 12 transgender voters. A total of 908 polling stations are spread across the district.
The Bandipora District has registered a total of 2,59,893 voters across its three Assembly constituencies, including 1,32,679 male voters, 1,27,208 female voters, and 6 transgender voters. A comprehensive network of 312 polling stations has been established across the district.
Udhampur District is divided into four Assembly constituencies, with a total of 4,22,802 registered voters, including 2,21,457 male and 2,01,345 female voters. To facilitate the voting process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 654 polling stations across the district.
The Kathua district has registered a total of 5,06,679 voters, including 2,65,420 male, 2,41,256 female, and 03 transgender voters across its six assembly constituencies. A comprehensive network of 704 polling stations has been established by the ECI for free, fair and transparent elections.
The Samba district comprises three Assembly constituencies, with 2,60,999 registered voters, including 1,33,736 male, 1,27,261 female and 02 transgender voters. ECI has established 366 polling stations throughout the district.
The Jammu district, with eleven Assembly Segments, has 12,009,77 electors, including 6,19,066 male, 5,81,887 female, and 24 transgender voters. To facilitate the voting process, t ECI has established 1494 polling stations across the District.
The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm.
Over 20k Polling Staff Deployed
Over 20,000 polling staff have been mobilised Monday across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir on the eve of third and final phase of assembly elections which will decide the electoral fate of 415 candidates including two former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Beig, officials said.
The highlight of the voting will be participation of west Pakistani refugees, Valmiki Samaj and Gorkha community who got the voting rights in assembly, urban local bodies and panchayat elections only after the abrogation of Article 370. They have earlier voted in block development council and district development council polls in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Over 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise at 5,060 polling stations in this crucial phase, covering 40 assembly segments in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in the Jammu region and Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north Kashmir, on October 1.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu zone, Anand Jain, said adequate security arrangements have been put in place in the poll-bound areas to ensure “terror-free and peaceful” polling.
Amid tight security arrangements, thousands of election staff along with poll material left their respective district headquarters this morning to take positions at their designated polling stations by this evening.
The voter turnout was robust in the earlier phases, with 61.38 per cent participation recorded in the first phase on September 18 and 57.31 per cent in the second phase on September 26.
This is the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019, with the results set to be announced on October 8.
According to J&K chief electoral officer Pandurang K Pole, more than 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise in the final phase across the 40 assembly constituencies – 24 in Jammu region and 16 in Kashmir valley.
Prominent among others in the fray include People’s Conference chairman and former minister Sajjad Lone and National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh. While Lone is fighting on two seats from Kupwara, Singh is contesting from Chenani seat of Udhampur.
Former ministers Raman Bhalla (R S Pura), Usman Majid (Bandipora), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurez), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Basharat Bukhari (Wagoora-Kreeri), Imran Ansari (Pattan), Ghulam Hassan Mir (Gulmarg), Choudhary Lal Singh (Basohli), Rajiv Jasrotia (Jasrota), Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar), Sham Lal Sharma and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra (Jammu North), Mula Ram (Marh), Chander Prakash Ganga and Manjit Singh (Vijapur) are other strong contenders in the fray.
Baramulla Constituency Leads With 25 Candidates
Baramulla Assembly Segment of North Kashmir leads with the highest 25 candidates in poll fray, while Akhnoor assembly constituency of Jammu district will witness a contest among three candidates only during this phase.
In this phase, 109 candidates are in fray in Jammu district, followed by 101 in Baramulla district, 59 in Kupwaradistrict, 42 in Bandipora district, 37 in Udhampur district, 35 in Kathua district, while 32 candidates are contesting in Samba district.
In Udhampur district, 12 candidates are in fray in 59-Udhampur West AC; 9 in 60-Udhampur East AC; 9 in 61-Chenani AC; while 7 candidates are contesting in 62-Ramnagar (SC) AC.
In Kathua district, 8 candidates are in fray in 63-Bani AC; 4 in 64-Billawar AC; 4 in 65-Basohli AC; 8 in 66-Jasrota AC; 5 in 67-Kathua (SC) AC; while 6 candidates are contesting in 68-Hiranagar AC.
In Samba district, 7 candidates are in fray in 69-Ramgarh (SC) AC; 14 in 70-Samba AC; while 11 candidates are contesting in 71-Vijaypur AC.
In Jammu district, 9 candidates are in fray in 72-Bishnah (SC) AC; 11 in 73-Suchetgarh (SC) AC; 14 in 74-R.S. Pura–Jammu South AC; 12 in 75-Bahu AC; 9 in 76-Jammu East AC; 8 in 77-Nagrota AC; 12 in 78-Jammu West AC; 17 in 79-Jammu North AC; 6 in 80-Marh (SC) AC; 3 in 81-Akhnoor (SC) AC; while 8 candidates are contesting in 82-Chhamb AC.
Similarly, in Kashmir Division’s Kupwara district, 8 candidates are in fray in 1-Karnah AC; 10 in 2-Trehgam AC; 8 in 3-Kupwara AC; 11 in 4-Lolab AC; 7 in 5-Handwara AC; while 15 candidates are contesting in 6-Langate AC.
In Baramulla district, 20 candidates are in fray in 7-Sopore AC; 12 in 8-Rafiabad AC; 6 in 9-Uri AC; 25 in 10-Baramulla AC; 13 in 11-Gulmarg AC; 12 in 12-Wagoora- Kreeri AC; while 13 candidates are contesting in 13-Pattan AC.
In Bandipora district, 18 candidates are in fray in 14-Sonawari AC; 19 in 15-Bandipora AC; while 5 candidates are contesting in 16-Gurez (ST) AC.
As Baramulla district prepares for polls under phase 3rd of the Assembly Elections 2024 on 1st October 2024,the District Election Officer (DEO), Minga Sherpa said that 7,24,335 electors are eligible in the district to participate in this democratic process.
With a robust electoral framework in place, the administration is committed to facilitating a smooth and transparent voting experience for all citizens.
A total of 908 polling stations have been established, including 35 special polling stations designed to enhance voter experience and accessibility. Notably, 40 polling stations have been strategically set up in border areas to ensure that every eligible voter gets the opportunity to cast their vote.
In preparation for this significant day, 4,479 election personnel in addition election Observers, micro-observers and magistrates accompanied by Security personnel have been deployed across the district. These dedicated teams will ensure the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to free and fair elections.
Ahead of poll day, the DEO conducted a thorough review of logistics and security arrangements. His visit to various dispatch centres affirmed that all necessary measures are in place for the effective deployment of polling parties to their designated stations.
“We are dedicated to ensuring a transparent, orderly, and efficient election in Baramulla. Our comprehensive preparations reflect our commitment to upholding the democratic process,” the DEO stated.
Meanwhile, DEO conducted an inspection of the webcasting control room, where teams are actively monitoring live webcasting from every polling station across all seven Assembly Constituencies. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability during the election process by allowing real-time observation of polling activities.
The DEO urges all eligible voters in Baramulla to participate actively in the elections, as every vote counts in shaping the future of the community.
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