25.78 lakh voters to decide fate of 239 candidates

Srinagar, Sep 24: Jammu and Kashmir is set to vote for the second phase of assembly elections, in which 26 constituencies with over 25 lakh voters are set to decide the fate of 239 contestants on Wednesday.

The electoral stakes are high, with 25,78,099 voters eligible to vote in this phase.

This electorate comprises 13,12,730 male voters, 12,65,316 female voters, and 53 third-gender voters.

The political arena is charged with the presence of several heavyweight candidates.

Omar Abdullah, the former chief minister and vice president of the National Conference (NC), has made a dramatic re-entry into electoral politics by contesting from two seats – Ganderbal and Budgam.

This decision, despite his earlier vow not to contest until statehood was restored, signals the high stakes of these elections for established political parties.

In Ganderbal, long considered an Abdullah family bastion, Omar faces stiff competition from PDP’s Bashir Ahmed Mir, former NC MLA Ishfaq Jabbar, jailed cleric Sarjan Barkati, and Sheikh Ashiq from the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP).

Other prominent figures in the fray include Ravindra Raina, the J&K BJP chief, seeking re-election from Nowshera in Rajouri district.

His performance will be closely watched as a barometer of the BJP’s standing in the J&K post the Article 370 abrogation.

Tariq Hamid Karra, the J&K Congress chief, is contesting from Central Shalteng in Srinagar, while Altaf Bukhari, leader of the newly formed Apni Party, is running from the Channapora seat in Srinagar.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made efforts to include all segments of society in the democratic process. This is evident in the registration of 1,20,612 first-time voters, aged 18 to 19 (11,294 male and 10,065 female), 19,201 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and 20,880 voters above the age of 85.

These numbers underscore the inclusive nature of the electoral process and the potential for new voices to influence the region's political future.

The second phase encompasses 26 Assembly Constituencies spread across six districts: Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam in the Kashmir division, and Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch in the Jammu division. This geographical spread ensures representation from both the Kashmir Valley and the Jammu region, each with its distinct political concerns and aspirations.

A total of 239 candidates are vying for the electorate’s favour, with the distribution across districts providing insights into the intensity of political competition in different areas.

Srinagar district leads with 93 candidates, followed by Budgam with 46, Rajouri with 34, Poonch with 25, Ganderbal with 21, and Reasi with 20 candidates.

This concentration of candidates in urban centres like Srinagar suggests a highly competitive political environment in these areas.

Delving deeper into the constituency-wise breakdown reveals interesting patterns. In Reasi district, the constituencies of Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi see 6, 7, and 7 candidates respectively. The Rajouri district presents a varied picture with 11 candidates in Kalakote-Sunderbani, 5 in Nowshera, 8 in Rajouri (ST), 4 in Budhal (ST), and 6 in Thannamandi (ST). Poonch district maintains a consistent level of competition with 8 candidates each in Surankote (ST) and Poonch Haveli, and 9 in Mendhar (ST).

The Kashmir division showcases intense political rivalry, particularly in the Srinagar district. The constituency of Habbakadal stands out with 16 candidates, the highest for any constituency in this phase. Other Srinagar constituencies also see stiff competition: Hazratbal with 13 candidates, Khanyar and Lal Chowk with 10 each, Channapora with 8, Zadibal with 10, and both Eidgah and Central Shalteng with 13 each. This high number of candidates in Srinagar constituencies underscores the political significance of the summer capital and the diverse political aspirations it represents.

To facilitate this mammoth electoral exercise, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established an extensive network of 3502 polling stations, all equipped with webcasting to ensure transparency. This includes 1056 urban and 2446 rural stations, reflecting the demographic spread of the electorate.

In a move to enhance voter participation and address specific needs, 157 special polling stations have been set up. These include 26 Pink Polling Stations managed entirely by women, fostering gender representation in the electoral process. Additionally, 26 stations are manned by specially-abled persons, promoting inclusivity, while another 26 are managed by youth, encouraging young people's participation in democracy. The presence of 31 border polling stations highlights the unique geographical challenges of the region, while 26 green polling stations and 22 unique polling stations further demonstrate the ECI's efforts to make voting accessible and environmentally conscious.

The participation of six female candidates across five constituencies adds another layer of interest to these elections. Shamim Firdous of the NC and Rubina Akhter of the National Loktantrik Party are both contesting from the high-profile Habba Kadal seat. Asiea Naqash from the PDP is in the fray from Hazratbal, a constituency that has been an NC stronghold for decades until Naqash's victory in 2014. Independent candidates Nilofar Sajjad Gandru, Pinty Devi, and Diksha Kaluria are contesting from Chadoora, Kalakote-Sunderbani, and Reasi respectively, adding diversity to the political landscape.