Baramulla AC leads with 25 candidates, Akhnoor AC race with just 3

5,060 Polling Stations established, over 20,000 polling staff deployed

STATE TIMES NEWS

SRINAGAR: With the stage set for 3rd and final phase of General Elections to Legislative Assembly, scheduled for October 01, the fate of 415 candidates will be determined by over 39.18 lakh voters.
The third phase of the Legislative Assembly Elections 2024 will cover 40 Assembly Constituencies (ACs) across seven districts of Jammu & Kashmir. These include Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora in the Kashmir Division while as Jammu, Udhampur, Kathua and Samba in the Jammu Division.
Baramulla Assembly Segment of North Kashmir leads with the highest 25 candidates in poll fray, while as Akhnoor assembly constituency of Jammu district will witness contest among three candidates only during this phase.
In Kashmir Division, 16 Assembly Constituencies comprising Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora and Gurez (ST), and in Jammu Division 24 Assembly Constituencies comprising Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, 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, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC) and Chhamb will go to the polls in this phase.
According to the latest electoral rolls, 39,18,220 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase, comprising 20,09,033 male voters, 19,09,130 female voters and 57 third-gender voters.
Underlining the significance of the role to be played by youth of Jammu and Kashmir in strengthening the democracy, as many as 1.94 lakh youths voters aged 18 to 19 are eligible to vote in 3rd phase of Assembly Election.
This phase will also see participation from 35,860 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and 32,953 voters above the age of 85.
To facilitate the voters for smooth and hassle free electoral participation, Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 5,060 polling stations with 100% webcasting across 40 Assembly Constituencies. These include 974 Urban Polling Stations and 4,086 Rural Polling Stations.
To enhance voter participation, 240 special polling stations have been established across 7 districts in this phase, including 50 polling stations managed by women, known as Pink polling stations, 43 polling stations manned by specially abled persons and 40 polling stations manned by youth. Also, there will be 45 green polling stations in order to spread message about environmental concern, 29 polling stations are established near the LOC/ IB for residents residing there and 33 Unique Polling stations.
A total of 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. Special Polling Station-wise extract voter list will be with BLOs.
A team of four officials, including Presiding Officer will be stationed in every polling station. In total, more than 20,000 Polling staff will be deployed on duty for 3rd phase of assembly election.
In this phase, 109 candidates are in fray in Jammu district, followed by 101 in Baramulla district, 59 in Kupwara district, 42 in Bandipora district, 37 in Udhampur district, 35 in Kathua district, while 32 candidates are contesting in Samba district.
In Udhampur district, 12 candidates are in fray in 59-Udhampur West AC; 9 in 60-Udhampur East AC; 9 in 61-Chenani AC; while 7 candidates are contesting in 62-Ramnagar (SC) AC.
In Kathua district, 8 candidates are in fray in 63-Bani AC; 4 in 64-Billawar AC; 4 in 65-Basohli AC; 8 in 66-Jasrota AC; 5 in 67-Kathua (SC) AC; while 6 candidates are contesting in 68-Hiranagar AC.
In Samba district, 7 candidates are in fray in 69-Ramgarh (SC) AC; 14 in 70-Samba AC; while 11 candidates are contesting in 71-Vijaypur AC.
In Jammu district, 9 candidates are in fray in 72-Bishnah (SC) AC; 11 in 73-Suchetgarh (SC) AC; 14 in 74-R.S. Pura-Jammu South AC; 12 in 75-Bahu AC; 9 in 76-Jammu East AC; 8 in 77-Nagrota AC; 12 in 78-Jammu West AC; 17 in 79-Jammu North AC; 6 in 80-Marh (SC) AC; 3 in 81-Akhnoor (SC) AC; while 8 candidates are contesting in 82-Chhamb AC.
Similarly, in Kashmir Division’s Kupwara district, 8 candidates are in fray in 1-Karnah AC; 10 in 2-Trehgam AC; 8 in 3-Kupwara AC; 11 in 4-Lolab AC; 7 in 5-Handwara AC; while 15 candidates are contesting in 6-Langate AC.
In Baramulla district, 20 candidates are in fray in 7-Sopore AC; 12 in 8-Rafiabad AC; 6 in 9-Uri AC; 25 in 10-Baramulla AC; 13 in 11-Gulmarg AC; 12 in 12-Wagoora- Kreeri AC; while 13 candidates are contesting in 13-Pattan AC. In Bandipora district, 18 candidates are in fray in 14-Sonawari AC; 19 in 15-Bandipora AC; while 5 candidates are contesting in 16-Gurez (ST) AC.
The Kupwara district has recorded a total of 5,42,535 registered voters, including 2,71,601 males, 2,70,924 females, and 10 transgender across six Assembly constituencies. A total of 622 polling stations are spread across these constituencies of the district, ensuring that every registered voter has the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. The Baramulla district comprises of seven Assembly Constituencies with 7,24,335 electorates which includes 3,65,074 males, 3,59,249 females, and 12 transgender voters. A total of 908 polling stations are spread across the district.
The Bandipora District has registered a total of 2,59,893 voters across its three Assembly constituencies, includes 1,32,679 male voters, 1,27,208 female voters, and 6 transgender voters. A comprehensive network of 312 polling stations has been established across the district.
Udhampur District is divided into four Assembly constituencies, with a total of 4,22,802 registered voters, including 2,21,457 male and 2,01,345 female voters. To facilitate the voting process, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 654 polling stations across the district.
The Kathua district has registered a total of 5,06,679 voters, including 2,65,420 male, 2,41,256 female, and 03 transgender voters across its six assembly constituencies. A comprehensive network of 704 polling stations has been established by the ECI for free, fair and transparent elections. The Samba district comprises three Assembly constituencies, with 2,60,999 registered voters, including 1,33,736 male, 1,27,261 female and 02 transgender voters. ECI has established 366 polling stations throughout the district. The Jammu district, with eleven Assembly Segments, has 12,009,77 electors, including 6,19,066 male, 5,81,887 female, and 24 transgender voters. To facilitate the voting process, t ECI has established 1494 polling stations across the District. The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Exit polls of J&K be published after 6 PM on Oct 5: ECI

JAMMU: As per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) through Press Note No. ECI/PN/132/2024, dated 31st August 2024, and under the provisions of Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, all media outlets (print, electronic, or digital), polling agencies, and individuals are hereby informed that publication or broadcast of exit poll results related to the ongoing elections in Jammu and Kashmir may be published after 6:00 PM onwards on 5th October 2024.
This restriction is mandated under Section 126A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951. Violation of this provision may lead to legal action, including fines and imprisonment as prescribed by law.
The restriction applies to all forms of media including newspapers, television channels, radio, online news portals, social media platforms, and messaging services like WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram etc. It also applies to political parties, candidates, polling agencies, and any individuals engaged in election-related activities.
The Chief Electoral Office, Jammu and Kashmir, along with the District Election Officers, Returning Officers and law enforcement agencies, will monitor compliance. Any violations will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law. This measure aims to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and ensure free and fair election environment, and to ensure that voters make their decisions uninfluenced by premature predictions or analysis of electoral outcomes. All concerned parties, including media houses, social media platforms, and polling agencies, are urged to adhere to these instructions and refrain from publishing or sharing any exit poll results before the stipulated time.