Last Lap

Srinagar, Sep 30: With the stage set for the third and final phase of the Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled for October 1, the fate of 415 candidates will be determined by over 39.18 lakh voters.

The third phase of the assembly polls will cover 40 assembly constituencies across seven districts of J&K.

These include Kupwara, Baramulla, and Bandipora in the Kashmir division and Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba in the Jammu division.

Baramulla assembly segment of north Kashmir leads with the highest 25 candidates in the poll fray while the Akhnoor assembly constituency of Jammu district will witness a contest among three candidates.

In Kashmir, division, 16 assembly constituencies comprising Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, and Gurez (ST), and in Jammu division 24 assembly constituencies comprising  Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar, Ramgarh (SC), Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah (SC), Suchetgarh (SC), R S Pura-Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC), and Chhamb will go to the polls in this phase.

According to the latest electoral rolls, 39,18,220  voters are eligible to cast their ballot in this phase, comprising 20,09,033  male, 19,09,130  female, and 57 third-gender electors.

Underlining the significance of the role to be played by the youth of J&K in strengthening democracy, 1.94 lakh youth voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in the third phase.

This phase will also see the participation of 35,860 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 32,953 voters above the age of 85.

To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 5060 polling stations with 100 percent webcasting across 40 assembly constituencies.

These include 974 urban polling stations and 4086 rural polling stations.

To enhance voter participation, 240 special polling stations have been established across seven districts in this phase, including 50 polling stations managed by women known as Pink Polling Stations, 43 polling stations manned by Persons with Disability (PwD) and 40 polling stations manned by youth.

Also, there will be 45 green polling stations to spread the message about environmental concerns, 29 polling stations have been established near the LoC and IB for residents residing there while 33 polling stations are unique.

A total of 24 special polling stations have been established for migrant voters of the Kashmir division, which includes 19 special polling stations in Jammu, four in Delhi, and one in Udhampur district.

Special polling station-wise exact voter list will be with the BLOs.

A team of four officials, including the Presiding Officer will be stationed in every polling station.

In total, more than 20,000 polling staff will be deployed on duty for the 3rd phase of the assembly election.

In this phase, 109 candidates are in the fray in Jammu district, followed by 101 in Baramulla, 59 in Kupwara, 42 in Bandipora, 37 in Udhampur, 35 in Kathua, and 32 candidates are contesting in Samba district.

In Udhampur, 12 candidates are in the 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 are in the fray in 63-Bani, four in 64-Billawar and 65-Basohli each; eight in 66-Jasrota; five in 67-Kathua (SC); and six are contesting in 68-Hiranagar.

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

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

In Kashmir division’s Kupwara district, eight candidates are in the fray in 1-Karnah, 10 in 2-Trehgam, eight in 3-Kupwara, 11 in 4-Lolab, seven in 5-Handwara, and 15 are contesting in 6-Langate.

In Baramulla district, 20 candidates are in the fray in 7-Sopore, 12 in 8-Rafiabad, six in 9-Uri, 25 in 10-Baramulla, 13 in 11-Gulmarg, 12 in 12-Wagoora-Kreeri, and 13 in 13-Pattan.

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

Kupwara district has recorded a total of 5,42,535 registered voters, including 2,71,601 male, 2,70,924 female, and 10 transgender across six assembly constituencies.

A total of 622 polling stations are spread across these constituencies of the district.

The Baramulla district comprises seven assembly constituencies with 7,24,335 electorate which includes 3,65,074 males, 3,59,249 females, and 12 transgender voters. A total of 908 polling stations are spread across the district.

Bandipora district has registered a total of 2,59,893 electors across its three constituencies, including 1,32,679 males, 1,27,208 females, and six transgender.

A comprehensive network of 312 polling stations has been established across the district.

Udhampur district is divided into four assembly constituencies with a total of 4,22,802 registered voters, including 2,21,457 males and 2,01,345 females.

To facilitate the voting process, the ECI has established 654 polling stations across the district.

Kathua district has registered a total of 5,06,679 voters, including 2,65,420 males, 2,41,256 females, and three transgender voters across its six assembly constituencies.

A comprehensive network of 704 polling stations has been established by the ECI in the district.

Samba district comprises three assembly constituencies with 2,60,999 registered electors, including 1,33,736 male, 1,27,261 female, and two transgender.

The ECI has established 366 polling stations throughout the district.

Jammu district with 11 assembly segments, has 12,009,77 electors, including 6,19,066 male, 5,81,887 female, and 24 transgender voters.

To facilitate the voting process, the ECI has established 1494 polling stations across the district.

The voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm on Tuesday.