415 candidates in fray; 5060 polling stations, 240 special polling stations established across 7 districts

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: More than 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise during the last Phase-III of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election to be held October 1 across the 40 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) in 7 districts of the Union Territory, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Pandurang K Pole said.
In Kashmir Division, 16 Assembly Constituencies including Karnah, Tregham, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, Gurez (ST) and in Jammu Division 24 Assembly Constituencies comprising Udhampur west, Udhampur east, Chenni, 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, Akhnoor(SC), Chhamb will also go to the polls in this phase.
In this phase, there are 5060 Polling stations across 7 districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua and Jammu will be established. Four election staff, including Presiding Officer will be stationed in every polling station. In total, more than 20,000 Polling staff will be deployed on dutyfor 3rdphase election.

Campaigning concludes for final phase of J&K polls: Stakes high for BJP

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: The intense campaigning for the third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election concluded on Sunday evening, with major political parties, particularly the BJP, Congress, NC and PDP, engaging in fierce exchanges over critical issues, including Pakistan, Article 370, terrorism and reservation.
Voting for this crucial phase, covering 40 Assembly segments across seven districts — Jammu, Udhampur, Samba and Kathua in the Jammu region and Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in north Kashmir — is scheduled for October 1.
The electoral fate of 415 candidates, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand (Congress) and Muzaffar Beig, are at stake in this phase.
The voter turnout was robust in the earlier phases, with 61.38 per cent participation recorded in the first phase on September 18 and 57.31 per cent in the second phase on September 26.
This is the first Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in August 2019, with the results set to be announced on October 8. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spearheaded the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) campaign, emphasising the party’s initiatives over the last 10 years to address what he described as “decades of injustice and historic discrimination”.
His remarks at a rally at the M A M Stadium were aimed at galvanising support for the BJP in the party’s traditional stronghold, asserting that the Union Territory status for Jammu and Kashmir is merely “temporary” and promising restoration of statehood.
The BJP achieved its best poll performance in Jammu and Kashmir in the 2014 Assembly election, winning 18 seats from the four Jammu districts and securing a total of 25 seats. Historically, the saffron party has never won any Assembly seat in the Kashmir valley.
Senior BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party president J P Nadda, have actively campaigned, accusing the Congress, National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of pursuing a “Pakistani agenda” and fostering terrorism — a claim vehemently denied by these parties.
Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have also campaigned vigorously, promising to restore statehood in Jammu and Kashmir and provide a “people-friendly” government in a coalition with the NC.
In the final phase, Jammu district has the highest number of candidates at 109, followed by Baramulla (101), Kupwara (59), Bandipora (42), Udhampur (37), Kathua (35) and Samba (32).
While the NC and the Congress are contesting the election in an alliance, their top leaders have largely campaigned separately for this phase. Rahul Gandhi addressed rallies in Jammu city and Sopore, a region previously known for separatism and insurgency.

In all 39,18,220 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. Out of them, there are 20,09,033 male voters; 19,09,130 female voters and 57 third gender voters. 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.
The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm and before that there will be mock poll in the polling stations in presence of the polling agents. Also, the voting will continue even after 6.00 pm, if voter’s queue is still there in the Polling Station premises to exercise their right to vote.
Every polling station will be provided with Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF’s) like drinking water, electricity, toilet, ramp, furniture, veranda/shed besides wheel chairs will also be provided to the needy. The ballot unit will also have a list of contesting candidates in brail script. Where ever required, there will be separate queues for senior citizens and specially-abled persons facilitating them with early polling. Additionally, there will be a voter help desk, manned by the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO), to extend necessary help whenever required.
There will be 50 polling booths managed by women, known as Pink Polling Stations, 43 polling stations manned by specially abled persons and 40 polling stations manned by youths. Also, there will be 45 green polling stations in order to spread message about environmental concern and 33 Unique Polling stations. 29 polling stations are established near the LOC/ IB for residents residing there. The purpose behind these special polling stations is to spread awareness among sections of society like women, specially abled, first-time young voters to come forward and exercise their right to vote.
Till date more than 1.07 lakh plants have been planted in the premises of all polling stations.
In order to facilitate voters in identification and also to increase voter turnout ratios, all voters have been provided with voter information slips. It is a simple black and white printed piece of paper with information like Polling Station name, date and time of poll, serial number of voter in the list, his full name, QR code but NOT the photograph of the voter. Hence, Voter Information Slips will not be allowed as proof of the identity of voters. Proof of identity will be any documents out of 12 documents, including EPIC. The BLO concerned has distributed 100 per cent voter information slips. The citizens can also view details of the Polling Station, Parliamentary Constituency, and get the contact details of the Booth Level Officer, Electoral Registration Officer among other services, through Voter Helpline App (VHA), available on the Google Play store and Apple App Store.
Electoral Photo Identification Card (EPIC) card of all those voters who have enrolled as fresh voters or has changed their particulars through form no 8, during recently held Special Summary Roll (SSR) in the month of July- August, have been dispatched by speed post. Without waiting for receipt of these EPIC cards, they can come to polling stations with any one out of 12 IDs, the ECI has allowed for as alternate document for voter identification at Assembly Election.
In addition to Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), 12 types of documents will also be allowed to verify a voter and aid him in voting. It is pertinent to mention here that EPIC card is NOT mandatory for voting. If some voter has misplaced his/ her EPIC card, any of the following documents can be used by him at the Polling Station and after verification. These documents are Aadhaar Card, MGNREGA Job Card, passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of the Ministry of Labour, driving license, PAN card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, pension document with photograph, service Identity cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Govt/PSUs/Public Limited Companies, official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, Unique Disability ID (UDID) Card, issued by M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India
With the aim of spreading awareness among the voters, Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) emerges as a comprehensive programme aimed at reinforcing voter education and promoting active participation in democratic process. The need for SVEEP arises from the Election Commission of India’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the participation of every voter in this monumental celebration of democracy. During the last few months, through various modes, SVEEP activities were undertaken in every nook and corner. Various activities like appeal messages in print, electronic and social media, through hoardings, banners, radio jingles etc were carried out. Street plays, use of social media influencers and icons, adventure and indigenous sport activities, along with plantation drives, painting and debate competitions were also done. Because of all these, the voter turnout is expected to be higher than the last Assembly elections.
Similarly, to ensure accessible and inclusive elections, Home Voting has been held for Persons with Disability with more than 40 per cent benchmark disability as well as for elderly electors above the age of 85 years, for all those who had applied for the same.
More than 1600 journalists and cameramen of print, electronic and social media platforms have been provided with requisite pass to cover the polling process. Without compromising secrecy of vote and causing any inconvenience to the democratic exercise, they can cover the polling. Detailed instructions have been given to the journalists on the pass.
The Voter Turnout App will be used to display estimated provisional voter turnout details of each Assembly Constituency entered by the RO. The media can also use the same application to capture estimated voter turnout data. Approximate voter turnout data of each phase of the elections will be displayed through this app. There will be two hourly reporting of voting percentage from 9.00 am to the end of poll. The concerned ARO and RO will share the data with media accordingly. The updated figures shall also be placed in voter turnout app. These figures are always subject to, normally upward correction as the final confirmed figures are collected after receiving the statutory forms from all Polling Stations. So, till these final figures are known, figures on Voter Turnout App are to be always tentative.
All 100 percent Polling stations, (5060) in40 Assembly Constituencies will have CCTV type cameras for live webcasting to control rooms established at District and CEO office. Cameras will be positioned in such a way so that they don’t violate the secrecy of vote.
There are few polling stations which falls in communication shadow areas. Suitable alternate arrangements in the communication shadow areas by providing Satellite Phones, Wireless sets, and Special Runners etc have been put in place. All vehicles being used in election, have been enabled with vehicle tracking system (GPS).
Candidates/ political parties, who need to obtain prior permission for campaigning purposes, can seek online permission on Suvidha app and Portal. Till date election officers have accorded permission for 6291applications and rejected around 700. Candidates were able to campaign in nook and corner of their constituencies between morning 6.00 am to night 10 pm.
In the entire Union territory, from the date of announcement of Elections, material/cash of around Rs 128.00 Crore has been seized. These include cash, liquor, drugs and other freebees seized by Police Department valuing Rs 115.00 Crore.
The public campaigning in all 40 Assembly Constituencies going to polls in 3rdPhase has conclude at 6.00 PM on 29 September, 48 hours before the closing poll hour, also known as the silence period or pre-election silence. All campaign-related activity is supposed to be halted and no one, including citizens, journalists, politicians, would be allowed to partake in any election campaign related activity during this 48-hour-long silence period.
Holding public meetings, conferences, interviews has been stopped to give the voters a peaceful break from being influenced by campaigns so that they may make a considered decision while voting. Besides, political advertisement in print media can only be done only after prior clearance from Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). Sale of liquor, even from the licensed shops, has also been banned.