Haryana Assembly Elections 2024: BJP's Anil Vij Trails in Ambala Cantt Seat, Major Upset on the Cards

Jammu and Kashmir is set to have its government after a decade and for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A. The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh after the Centre revoked Article 370 on August 5, 2019. The elections to the 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly were held in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1 with a voter turnout of 63.45 per cent. This marks a significant rise from the Lok Sabha elections where the footfall was clocked at 58.58 per cent. However, the polling percentage was less than the 65.52 per cent recorded in the 2014 assembly elections. The counting began at 8 am and wrap up by 6 pm later in the day under stringer security cover. A three-tier security system has been put in place at all the 20 counting centres across Jammu and Kashmir where the votes will be counted, said an official of the Election Commission of India, reported PTI. The high-stakes battle will have 873 candidates testing their electoral fate including bigwigs like National Conference's Omar Abdullah contesting from Budgam and Ganderbal segments; Sajad Gani Lone of People's Conference who entered the fray from Handwara and Kupwara seats; Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra, a candidate from Batamaloo seat; and BJP state president Ravindra Raina, who is contesting from Nowshera seat. State Congress general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir (Dooru), PDP leaders Waheed Para (Pulwama), Iltija Mufti (Bijbehara), Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari (Chanapora), CPI(M) veteran Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (Kulgam) and former deputy chief ministers Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tara Chand are some of the other key candidates in the race.