J&K Polls: Final Phase Of Voting In 40 Seats Begins, Sajjad Lone, 2 Former Deputy CMs In Fray

This is the maiden assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir after it was made a Union Territory in 2019. The first phase of the elections began on September 18.

The third and final phase of voting for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections began at 7 am on Tuesday. As many as 40 Assembly segments - 24 in Jammu region and 16 in Kashmir valley - will vote today. Over 39.18 lakh voters will decide the fate of 415 candidates, including two former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Beig.

Key Contenders In Final Phase

Other Key candidates in this phase are People's Conference chairperson Sajjad Lone, who is contesting from two seats in Kupwara, and BJP's Devender Singh Rana contesting from the Nagrota seat. Other candidates are National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh, contesting from the Chenani seat in Udhampur, 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), and Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar).

A key highlight of this election phase is the participation of West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community, who gained voting rights in assembly, urban local bodies, and panchayat elections following the abrogation of Article 370. Previously, they had only participated in block development council and district development council elections held in 2019 and 2020.
The first phase of Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir began on September 18. This is the maiden assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir after it was made a Union Territory in 2019.

Preparations For Final Phase Of Polls

Over 20,000 polling staff have been mobilised across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The campaigning for the final phase ended on Sunday evening and security forces have been deployed across the Union Territory to maintain the law and order situation. The Union Territory saw a voter turnout of 61.38 per cent in the first phase and 57.31 per cent in the second phase on September 26.

To encourage participation from all sections of society, 50 polling stations, managed exclusively by women, have been set up. Additionally, there are 43 stations managed by specially-abled individuals, 40 manned by youths, and 45 green polling stations promoting environmental awareness. As many as 33 unique polling stations and 29 stations are located near the Line of Control and International Border to facilitate border residents' participation.