415 contestants in final fray for 40 constituencies

Jammu, Sep 17: On the last day of the withdrawal of nomination papers for the third and final phase of the forthcoming J&K assembly elections 2024 in the 40 Assembly Constituencies, 34 candidates withdrew their candidature in the office of respective Returning Officers across seven districts on Tuesday, leaving 415 candidates in the final poll fray.

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, said that of the total 449 valid nominations, 34 candidates withdrew their nominations by the last date of withdrawal, September 17, 2024.

With this, only 415 validly nominated candidates now remain in the fray for the 40 assembly constituencies where polling would be held in the third phase of the J&K assembly polls on October 1, 2024.

The highest 16 candidates withdrew their nomination in Kupwara district, followed by six in Baramulla, four each in Jammu district and Bandipora district, three in Kathua district, one in Udhampur district, while no candidates withdrew their nomination in Samba district.

With this, 109 candidates remain in the final electoral fray in Jammu district, followed by 101 in Baramulla district, 59 in Kupwara district, 42 in Bandipora district, 37 in Udhampur district, 35 in Kathua district, while 32 candidates remain in the final fray in Samba district.

In the Udhampur district, 12 candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 59-Udhampur West; nine in 60-Udhampur East; nine in 61-Chenani and seven in 62-Ramnagar (SC).

In Kathua district, eight candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 63-Bani; four in 64-Billawar; four in 65-Basohli; eight in 66-Jasrota; five in 67-Kathua (SC) and six candidates remain in the fray in 68-Hiranagar.

In Samba district, seven candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 69-Ramgarh (SC); 14 in 70-Samba; and 11 in 71-Vijaypur.

In Jammu district, nine candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 72-Bishnah (SC); 11 in 73-Suchetgarh (SC); 14 in 74-R S Pura – Jammu South; 12 in 75-Bahu; nine in 76-Jammu East; eight in 77-Nagrota; 12 in 78-Jammu West; 17 in 79-Jammu North; six in 80-Marh (SC); three in 81-Akhnoor (SC) and eight in 82-Chhamb.

In Kupwara district, eight candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 1-Karnah; 10 in 2-Trehgam; eight in 3-Kupwara; 11 in 4-Lolab; seven in 5-Handwara and 15 in 6-Langate.

In Baramulla, 20 candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 7-Sopore; 12 in 8-Rafiabad; six in 9-Uri AC; 25 in 10-Baramulla; 13 in 11-Gulmarg; 12 in 12-Wagoora-Kreeri and 13 in 13-Pattan.

In Bandipora district, 18 candidates remain in the final electoral fray in 14-Sonawari; 19 in 15-Bandipora and five in 16-Gurez (ST).

A total of 486 candidates had filed their nomination papers before the respective Returning Officers in 40 assembly constituencies till the last date of filing the nominations on September 12, 2024.

Of these, the nomination papers of 449 candidates were found valid during scrutiny held on September 13, 2024.

Now with the withdrawal of 34 candidates, 415 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for phase III.

With this, a total of 873 candidates will be in the final fray in the assembly elections for 90 assembly constituencies including 219 candidates for 24 assembly constituencies in the first phase, 239 candidates for 26 assembly constituencies in the second phase and 415 candidates for 40 ACs in the third phase.