#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir, the women voters have once again outnumbered the men electorates in the phase-III of assembly elections in which a total of 69.69 percentages was recorded on Tuesday October 1.

According to the revised data released by Election Commission of India, for the phase-III of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, a total of 70.02 per cent women voters cast their ballots while 69.37 per cent male voters turned up at the polling booth earlier this week. A total of 63.88 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the third and final phase of the assembly elections.

In the third phase, the highest voter turnout was recorded in Marh (SC) assembly segment of Jammu district where a total of 81.47% voter turnout was recorded followed by Chhamb assembly segment with 80.34% voter turnout. Out of the 40 assembly constituencies went for polls on October 1, the lowest turnout was recorded in Sopore assembly constituency at 45.32 % followed by 53.90 % in Baramulla segment. Pertinently, the three-phased assembly elections that started on September 18, 2024, culminated in Jammu and Kashmir on October 1.

In the three phases of elections, a total of 90 assembly segments underwent polling on September 18, September 25 and October 01, 2024.

The counting of votes will however take place on October 08, 2024.

#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir, for the first time in the political history five nominated Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will have a significant role in forming the new government following a decade-long hiatus.

These MLAs, representing Kashmiri displaced persons and those from Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK), will hold full legislative powers and privileges, just like elected representatives. Among the five MLAs, two will be Kashmiri displaced members—one woman and one man—while one will represent the POJK displaced community.

This will be a milestone in terms of representation for these communities, as their inclusion in the legislative assembly has been a longstanding demand. With this new arrangement, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly will expand to 95 members, including the five nominated ones, increasing the majority threshold to 48 seats to form a government.

The Lieutenant Governor will nominate these members based on the advice of the Home Ministry. This process follows an amendment to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, which was further revised on July 26, 2023, to introduce these nominations.

Congress has strongly objected to the move of the ruling BJP to get five of its leaders nominated to the Legislative Assembly, from LG prior to the process of Government formation in J&K and termed any such move as undemocratic and against the mandate of people and asked the LG to desist from any such move. Reacting strongly to the media reports in this regard JKPCC has termed any such move as undemocratic, an attempt to defeat the mandate of the people.

JKPCC senior vice president and chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma has said that the power to nominate five members to the Legislative Assembly should lie with the new Govt, otherwise, it would be an attempt to defeat the mandate of the people.

He claimed that Congress–NC will get a comfortable majority to form the Government but any such exercise would be contrary to the democratic norms and would be another betrayal with the mandate of the people.

Elaborate arrangements put in place for smooth & hassle-free voting

#JAMMU: In Jammu and Kashmir, the campaigning for third and final phase of assembly elections ended this evening. More than 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise during the 3rd and last phase of the Assembly Election to be held on 1st October across 40 Assembly Constituencies in 7 districts of the Union Territory.

Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place for smooth, peaceful and incident free polling. The voting will take place from 7 AM to 6 PM. VOICE CAST The political fate of 415 candidates of various political parties and independent who are in the final electoral fray would be decided by more than 39.18 lakh eligible electors in the third and last phase of the assembly elections on October 1.

Out of 40 assembly seats, twenty four seats in Jammu and 16 in North Kashmir, likely to witness an intense face-off between arch rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress in Jammu while in Kashmir, INDI Alliance NC-Congress candidates will face Jammu Kashmir People Conference and Awami It ihad Party.

Some prominent fights for their political survival in this phase which includes former deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, who is Congress candidate for Chamb Constituency and facing four corner battle from BJP’s- Rajeev Sharma and two independent Satish Sharma and Narinder Singh Bhau, Congress working president Raman Bhalla from R S Pura Jammu south constituency, Former Minister and BJP Candidate Sham Lal Sharma who is facing Former Minister and National Conference candidate Ajay Sadhotra from Jammu North, Former Minister and Congress candidate from Basholi Choudary Lal Singh who is facing BJP’s Darsahn Singh, Panther Party leader and Former Minister Harsh Dev Singh fighting his own cousin and Panther Party colleague now BJP candidate Balwant Singh Mankotia from Udhampur’s Chenani assembly constituency. Democratic Progressive Azad Party of Ghulam Nabi Azad also fielded candidates but is fighting as an independent candidate.

The Election Commission of India has setup 5060 Polling stations across 7 districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua and Jammu for smooth and hasel free voting by the eligible elwctors. Four election staff, including Presiding Officer will be stationed in every polling station. In total, more than 20 thousand Polling staff has been deployed on duty for 3rd phase election.

A total 39 lakh 18 thousand 220 voters including 20 lakh 09 thousand 033 male, 19 lakh 40 thousand 092 female and 57 third gender voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the third phase of assembly elections. As many as 1.94 lakh youth between the age 18-19 years, along with 35,860 Person with Disabilities (PwDs) and 32,953 elderly voters above the age of 85 are also eligible to exercise their franchise in this phase. 24 special Polling Stations have been established for Migrant Voters of Kashmir Division, which includes 19 Special Polling Stations in Jammu, 4 in Delhi and 1 in Udhampur District.

Over 25.78 lakh voters set to exercise their right to franchise in 3,502 Polling Stations

#SRINAGAR: The polling began today for the 2nd phase of General Elections to J&K Legislative Assembly in 26 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir.

The polling stated at 7:00 AM in all 3502 polling stations across  26 Assembly Constituencies of six districts namely Ganderbal, Srinagar & Budgam in Kashmir Division; and Reasi, Rajouri & Poonch in Jammu Division. Earlier, mock drills were also conducted in all the polling stations.

From early morning, long queues of enthusiastic voters are being witnessed, waiting for their turn to exercise their right to franchise.

In this phase, 25,78,099 lakh voters are eligible to cast their ballot, comprising 13,12,730  lakh male voters, 12,65,316  lakh female voters and 53 third-gender voters.

This phase will determine the fate of 239 candidates.

The respective District Administrations have made elaborative arrangements at all the polling stations for free, fair and transparent elections.

#SRINAGAR:  Over 25.78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in second phase of General Elections to the Legislative Assembly, scheduled on 25th September, 2024.

The second phase of the Legislative Assembly Elections 2024 will cover 26 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across six districts of Jammu & Kashmir, include Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam in Kashmir Division, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu Division.

In Kashmir Division 15 ACs are up for election; 17-Kangan (ST); 18-Ganderbal; 19-Hazratbal; 20-Khanyar; 21-Habbakadal; 22-Lal Chowk; 23-Channapora; 24-Zadibal; 25-Eidgah; 26-Central Shalteng; 27-Budgam; 28-Beerwah; 29-Khansahib; 30-Chrar-I-Sharief and 31-Chadoora, while as in Jammu Division 11 Assembly Constituencies,  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) will  go for  polls in this phase.

According to  latest electoral rolls, 25,78,099  lakh voters are eligible to 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  youth of Jammu and Kashmir in strengthening the democracy, as many as 1,20,612  lakh voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in phase-II of the Assembly Elections.  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) voters and 20,880 voters above the age of 85.

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

In Reasi district, 6 candidates are in fray in Gulabgarh (ST) AC; 7 candidates in Reasi AC; while 7 candidates are contesting in Shri Mata Vaishno Devi AC.

In Rajouri district, 11 are in fray Kalakote -Sunderbani AC; 5 candidates in Nowshera AC; 8 candidates in Rajouri (ST) AC; 4 candidates in Budhal (ST) AC, while 6 candidates are contesting in Thannamandi (ST) AC.

In Poonch district, 8 candidates are in fray in Surankote (ST) AC; 8 candidates in Poonch Haveli AC; while 9 candidates are contesting in Mendhar (ST) AC.

Similarly, in Ganderbal district, 6 candidates are fray in Kangan (ST) AC and 15 candidates are contesting in Ganderbal AC.

In Srinagar district, 13 candidates are in fray in Hazratbal AC; 10 candidates in Khanyar AC; 16 candidates in Habbakadal AC; 10 candidates in 22-Lal Chowk AC; 8 candidates in 23-Channapora AC; 10 candidates in 24-Zadibal AC; 13 candidates in 25-Eidgah AC; while 13 candidates are contesting in 26-Central Shalteng AC.

Finally, in Budgam district, 8 candidates are in fray in 27-Budgam AC; 12 candidates in 28-Beerwah AC; 10 candidates in 29-Khansahib AC; 10 candidates in 30-Chrar-I-Sharief AC; while 6 candidates are contesting in 31-Chadoora AC.

The 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, ensuring that every registered voter has opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

The Rajouri has 4,92,008 electorates which includes 2,56,215 males, 2,35,786 females, and 7 transgender voters. A comprehensive network of 745 polling stations has been established across the district.

The Budgam District has a total of 5,11,864 voters across its five Assembly constituencies; 2,59,688 male voters, 2,52,163 female voters, and 13 transgender voters. A total of 639 polling stations are spread across the two Assembly constituencies, ensuring that every registered voter has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

Poonch District is divided into three Assembly constituencies, with a total of 3,52,330 registered voters; 1,80,584 males and 1,71,746 females. To facilitate the voting process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 483 polling stations across both constituencies.

The Reasi district has registered a total of 2,37,205 voters, including 1,24,359 males, 1,12,843 females, and 3 transgender across its three Assembly constituencies. ECI has established 436 polling stations throughout the district

The Ganderbal district has 2,08,018 registered voters, including 1,04,162 male and 1,03,856 female voters. A comprehensive network of 267 polling stations has been established by the ECI for free, fair and transparent elections.

To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3502 polling stations with 100% webcasting across 26 Assembly Constituencies. These include 1056 Urban Polling stations and 2446 Rural Polling stations.

To enhance voter participation, 157 Special polling stations have been established in second phase including 26 polling booths managed by women as as Pink Polling Stations, 26 polling stations manned by specially abled persons, 26 polling stations manned by youths, 31 Border polling stations, 26 green polling stations and 22 Unique Polling stations.

The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm.