LS polls in J&K in 5 phases: CEC

New Delhi, Mar 16:  The Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases with voting in each of its five parliamentary constituencies to be held in each phase.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Saturday announced that voting in J&K would span five phases- slated for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, and May 20. The region accounts for five Lok Sabha seats, while Ladakh contributes two seats to the electoral count.

Out of J&K’s five LS constituencies, Udhampur will go to polls on April 19; Jammu on April 26; Anantnag-Rajouri on May 7; Srinagar on May 13 and Baramulla on May 20.

J&K, presently under the President’s Rule since 2018, is expected to organise Assembly polls by September 30, aligning with a directive from the Supreme Court.

The upcoming Lok Sabha elections are scheduled to unfold over seven phases, kicking off on April 19 and concluding on June 1, with results set to be declared on June 4.

Meanwhile, among the four states participating in this electoral cycle are Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim.

Arunachal Pradesh, with 60 seats, and Sikkim, with 32 seats, would conduct voting in a single phase on April 19.

Andhra Pradesh, boasting 175 seats, would go to polls on May 13.

Odisha, with 147 seats, would witness voting in two phases, scheduled for May 13 and May 20.

Moreover, the electoral landscape would see by-polls held for 26 Assembly constituencies across 13 states, further enriching the electoral dynamics of the upcoming polls.