Over 20,000 polling staff were mobilised on Monday across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the third and final phase of assembly elections, which will determine the fate of 415 candidates, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand and Muzaffar Baig. The elections will see participation from 39.18 lakh eligible voters across 5,060 polling stations, covering 40 assembly segments in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara on October 1.
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole stated that voters in this crucial phase will cast their ballots across 24 assembly constituencies in Jammu region and 16 in the Kashmir Valley.
A key highlight of this election phase is the participation of West Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community, who gained voting rights in assembly, urban local bodies, and panchayat elections following the abrogation of Article 370. Previously, they had only participated in block development council and district development council elections held in 2019 and 2020.
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Jammu-Kashmir Election Phase 3: Prominent Contenders
Among 415 candidates, notable contenders in the fray include People’s Conference chairperson Sajjad Lone, contesting from two seats in Kupwara, and National Panthers Party India president Dev Singh, contesting from the Chenani seat in Udhampur. Other prominent candidates include former ministers 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), and Manohar Lal Sharma (Billawar).
Former deputy chief minister Tara Chand is a Congress candidate from the Chhamb assembly constituency while ex-PDP leader Muzaffar Baig is fighting the polls as an independent candidate from Baramulla.
In Jammu division, Jammu district will see voting in 11 assembly segments, while Kathua, Udhampur, and Samba districts will account for six, four, and three segments, respectively. In Kashmir, Kupwara will have six constituencies, Baramulla will see voting in seven segments, and Bandipora will cover three.
Jammu-Kashmir Election Phase 3: Security And Poll Preparations
Jammu zone Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Anand Jain, assured that adequate security measures are in place to ensure a peaceful and terror-free election, news agency PTI reported. Thousands of election staff, equipped with polling material, departed from district headquarters to their assigned polling stations earlier today.
To encourage participation from all sections of society, 50 polling stations, managed exclusively by women, have been set up. Additionally, there are 43 stations managed by specially-abled individuals, 40 manned by youths, and 45 green polling stations promoting environmental awareness. The CEO also announced 33 unique polling stations and 29 stations located near the Line of Control and International Border to facilitate border residents’ participation.
Pole added that 1.07 lakh saplings have been planted in polling station premises as part of an environmental initiative. “The purpose behind these special polling stations is to spread awareness among women, specially-abled persons, and first-time young voters to come forward and exercise their right to vote,” he explained, as quoted by PTI.
A total of 20,000 polling staff will be deployed across the 40 constituencies, with each polling station managed by four election staff, including a presiding officer. Polling will take place from 7 am to 6 pm, and a mock poll will be conducted beforehand in the presence of polling agents. If voters are still in the queue after 6 pm, voting will continue until they have cast their votes.
Polling stations will be equipped with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs), including drinking water, electricity, toilets, ramps, furniture, and sheds. Special provisions such as wheelchairs for the needy and Braille lists of contesting candidates for the visually impaired will also be available. Separate queues for senior citizens and specially-abled persons will be arranged to facilitate early voting.
This election marks the first assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The voter turnout in the first two phases was notably high, with 61.38% recorded in the first phase on 18 September and 57.31% in the second phase on 26 September. The results are scheduled to be declared on 8 October.
