J-K Election Phase 2: 26 Seats Up For Grabs—Omar Abdullah, Tariq Karra, Ravinder Raina Among Key Candidates

Jammu Kashmir Election 2024: Over 13,000 polling staff will oversee the second phase of voting. Key candidates include former CM Omar Abdullah, J-K Congress President Tariq Hamid Karra, and BJP's Ravinder Raina.

Jammu Kashmir Election 2024 Phase 2: Over 13,000 polling staff are set to oversee the voting process at 3,502 polling stations across 26 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir for the second phase of elections scheduled for Wednesday. Security forces, including police, armed police, and central paramilitary personnel, have been deployed to ensure a secure voting environment, as officials confirmed that a multi-tier security blanket has been established around each polling station.

According to news agency PTI, a senior police official stated, "As the second phase of voting will take place tomorrow (Wednesday), we have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure that the maximum number of people exercise their right to vote." The strong rooms, where electronic voting machines will be stored after polling, are under 24-hour digital surveillance.

To facilitate smooth electoral participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up 3,502 polling stations, comprising 1,056 urban and 2,446 rural stations. All polling stations will feature webcasting facilities to enhance transparency during the elections.

The elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being conducted in three phases. The first phase for 24 seats took place on September 18, while the second phase will see 26 seats contested on Wednesday. The third phase, covering 40 seats, is scheduled for October 1, with vote counting on October 8.

An estimated 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates vying for 26 assembly seats across six districts, including three in the Valley and three in the Jammu division. To enhance voter participation, 157 special polling stations have been established for this phase, including 26 'pink polling stations' managed by women, and 31 border polling stations.

Jammu Kashmir Election Phase 2: Key Candidates And Seats

Key candidates in this election include former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam, and Jammu and Kashmir Congress President Tariq Hamid Karra, contesting from Central Shalteng. BJP's Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ravinder Raina will aim to retain his Nowshera seat in Rajouri district, which he won in the 2014 assembly elections.

This phase will also attract attention due to jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, alias Barkati, who is contesting from the Beerwah and Ganderbal segments, hoping to replicate Engineer Rashid's previous Lok Sabha poll success against Abdullah. Other notable candidates include Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari (Channapora) and former ministers Ali Mohammad Sagar (Khanyar), Abdul Rahim Rather (Chrar-i-Sharief), and Choudhary Zulfikar Ali (Budhal).

The first phase saw an estimated voter turnout of 61.38%. In the second phase, 93 candidates are contesting in Srinagar district, followed by 46 in Budgam, 34 in Rajouri, 25 in Poonch, 21 in Ganderbal, and 20 in Reasi. The constituencies in Srinagar include Hazratbal, Khanyar, and Lal Chowk, while in Budgam, they encompass Budgam and Chadoora. In the Jammu division, the seats up for grabs include Gulabgarh, Reasi, and Nowshera.

The key seats in this phase include Nowshera, Central-Shalteng, Ganderbal, and Budhal.