LIVE | J&K Assembly polls final phase: 65.48% voter turnout till 5 pm
More than 39.18 lakh eligible voters will decide the electoral fate of 415 candidates, including two former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig
People queued outside polling booths in large numbers in the third and final phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections on Tuesday (October 1), as the UT recorded 65.48% voter turnout till 5 pm.
Udhampur registered the highest turnout of 72.91% followed by Samba at 72.41%, Kathua 70.53%, Jammu 66.79%, Bandipore 63.33%, Kupwara 62.76%, and Baramulla 55.73%.
According to the Election Commission, the second phase of the J&K polls on Wednesday (September 25) recorded a voter turnout of 57.31% — lower than the phase one turnout of 61.38% and the 2014 overall turnout of 65.52%. In the first phase of polling on September 18 in 24 constituencies, the EC recorded a turnout of 61.38%.
Polling began at 7 am in 16 Assembly segments in three border districts of north Kashmir and 24 constituencies in the Jammu region amid tight security. Polling is scheduled to conclude at 6 pm.
More than 39.18 lakh eligible voters will decide the electoral fate of 415 candidates, including two former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig.
A first
The election will have West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community exercise their franchise, having gained voting rights for the first Assembly polls following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
They previously participated in the Block Development Council and the District Development Council polls of 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Segments going to polls
The Assembly segments going to the polls are Baramulla, Uri, Rafiabad, Pattan, Gulmarg, Sopore, and Wagoora-Kreeri (Baramulla district), Kupwara, Karnah, Trehgam, Handwara, Lolab, and Langate (Kupwara district), and Bandipora, Sonawari, and Gurez (Bandipora district).
A total of 202 candidates are in the fray in these 16 segments.
Among the prominent candidates in the fray in this phase are Raman Bhalla (R S Pura), Usman Majid (Bandipora), Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurez), Taj Mohiuddin (Uri), Basharat Bukhari (Wagoora-Kreeri), Imran Ansari (Pattan), Ghulam Hassan Mir (Gulmarg), Choudhary Lal Singh (Basohli), Rajiv Jasrotia (Jasrota), Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar), Sham Lal Sharma, and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra (Jammu North).
Tight security
More than 400 companies of security forces, including paramilitary and armed police personnel, have been deployed to ensure a safe voting environment.
The constituencies in Jammu region are located in Udhampur, Samba, and Kathua districts.
The earlier phases of the election saw robust turnout, with 61.38 per cent participation in the first phase on September 18 and 57.31 per cent in the second phase on September 25.
The results are scheduled to be announced on October 8.
Also read: As NC hopes for J&K victory, ominous signs for Abdullahs
EC’s preparation
To facilitate voter participation, the Election Commission has set up 5,060 polling stations and ensured 100 per cent webcasting across all constituencies. Of the total, 974 are urban polling stations and 4,086 are rural.
Special initiatives to enhance participation include 240 “special” polling stations, 50 “pink” polling stations managed by women, and 43 polling stations manned by persons with disabilities.
Additionally, there are 45 “green” polling stations promoting environmental awareness, 29 polling stations located near the Line of Control and the International Border for border residents, and 33 “unique” polling stations.
For migrant voters of the Kashmir division, 24 “special” polling stations — 19 in Jammu, four in Delhi, and one in Udhampur district — have been established.
(With agency inputs)
Follow our Live updates below
