The second phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will find over 2,50,000 voters deciding the demise of 239 contestants for 26 seats in six districts: three districts of the Valley and three of Jammu Division. Polling will be conducted between 7am and 6pm.
In Srinagar district 93 candidates are in the fray, 46 candidates in Budgam, 34 in Rajouri, 25 in Poonch, 21 in Ganderbal and 20 candidates in Reasi. Major constituencies are Hazratbal, Khanyar, Peer Panjal, and Channapora in Srinagar; Budgam and Charar-I-Sharief in Budgam; Ganderbal and Kangan in Ganderbal. Jammu Division has many important seats such as Gulabgarh, Nowshera, Rajouri and Poonch Haveli.
Former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah is in elections for Ganderbal and Budgam seats and JLKC president Tariq Hamid Karra is in the elections in Central Shalteng. Ravinder Raina, BJP’s J-K Chief intends to defend his Nowshera seat. Militant separatist Sarjan Ahmad Wagay aka Barkati has fielded himself in Beerwah and Ganderbal to follow the path of Engineer Rashid in the past.
Other key contenders in the list are Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari and former ministers Ali Mohammad Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather, and Choudhary Zulfikar Ali.
The first round of elections held on September 18 showed 61.38% of voter engagement. The last phase will be held on October 1 while the voting count will be conducted on October 8.
