J&K gears up for high-stakes phase II

Srinagar, Sep 23: Over 25.78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the second phase of J&K assembly polls scheduled on Wednesday, September 25.

The second phase of the assembly polls will cover 26 constituencies across six J&K districts including Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam in Kashmir and Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch in Jammu.

In Kashmir, 15 assembly constituencies that are up for election are 17-Kangan (ST), 18-Ganderbal, 19-Hazratbal, 20-Khanyar, 21-Habba Kadal, 22-Lal Chowk, 23-Channapora, 24-Zadibal, 25-Eidgah, 26-Central Shalteng, 27-Budgam, 28-Beerwah, 29-Khan Sahab, 30-Charar-e-Sharief, and 31-Chadoora while in Jammu, 11 assembly constituencies going to polls are 56-Gulabgarh (ST), 57-Reasi, 58-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, 83-Kalakote-Sunderbani, 84-Nowshera, 85-Rajouri (ST), 86-Budhal (ST), 87-Thannamandi (ST), 88-Surankote (ST), 89-Poonch-Haveli, and 90-Mehdhar (ST).

According to the latest electoral rolls, 25,78,099 voters can cast their ballot in this phase, comprising 13,12,730  lakh male voters, 12,65,316  lakh female voters, and 53 third-gender voters.

Underlining the significance of the role played by the youth of J&K in strengthening democracy, 1,20,612  lakh voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in phase II of the polls.

Among these, 11,294 are male and 10,065 are female first-time voters.

This phase will also see participation from 19,201 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) electors and 20,880 voters above the age of 85.

During this phase, 93 candidates are in the fray in Srinagar district, followed by 46 in Budgam district, 34 in Rajouri district, 25 in Poonch district, 21 in Ganderbal district, and 20 in Reasi district.

In Reasi district, six candidates are in the fray in Gulabgarh (ST) and seven each in Reasi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

In Rajouri district, 11 candidates are in the fray in Kalakote-Sunderbani, five in Nowshera, eight in Rajouri (ST), four in Budhal (ST), and six in Thannamandi (ST).

In Poonch district, eight candidates are in the fray in Surankote (ST), eight in Poonch Haveli, and nine in Mendhar (ST).

In Ganderbal district, six candidates are in the fray in Kangan (ST) and 15 in Ganderbal.

In Srinagar district, 13 candidates are in the fray in Hazratbal, 10 in Khanyar, 16 in Habba Kadal, 10 in Lal Chowk, eight in Channapora, 10 in Zadibal, 13 each in Eidgah and Central Shalteng.

In Budgam district, eight candidates are in the fray in Budgam, 12 in Beerwah, 10 in Khan Sahab, 10 in Charar-e-Sharief, and six in Chadoora.

Srinagar district has a total of 7,76,674 registered voters, including 3,87,722 males, 3,88,922 females, and 30 transgender voters across eight assembly constituencies.

A total of 932 polling stations are spread across these constituencies.

Rajouri has 4,92,008 electors including 2,56,215 males, 2,35,786 females, and seven transgender.

A network of 745 polling stations has been established across the district.

Budgam district has a total of 5,11,864 electors across its five assembly constituencies - 2,59,688 males, 2,52,163 females, and 13 transgender.

A total of 639 polling stations are spread across the five assembly constituencies.

Poonch district is divided into three assembly constituencies with a total of 3,52,330 registered electors - 1,80,584 males and 1,71,746 females. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 483 polling stations across these constituencies.

Reasi district has a total of 2,37,205 registered electors, including 1,24,359 males, 1,12,843 females, and three transgender across its three assembly constituencies.

The ECI has established 436 polling stations throughout the district

Ganderbal district has 2,08,018 registered electors, including 1,04,162 males and 1,03,856 females.

A network of 267 polling stations has been established across the district.

To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, the ECI has established a total of 3502 polling stations with 100 percent webcasting across all 26 assembly constituencies going to polls in phase II.

These include 1056 urban polling stations and 2446 rural polling stations.

To enhance voter participation, 157 special polling stations have been established in the second phase including 26 polling booths managed by women as pink polling stations, 26 polling stations manned by PwDs, 26 polling stations manned by youth, 31 border polling stations, 26 green polling stations, and 22 unique polling stations.