Jammu and Kashmir election 2024: With 24 constituencies scheduled to go to polls in the first phase on Wednesday, September 18, multi-tier security arrangements have been put in place to ensure free and fair assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The first phase of voting will witness polling in 16 constituencies in southern Kashmir and eight constituencies in the Jammu division. The constituencies where voting will be held are – Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D.H. Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara Bijbehara, Shangus Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder – Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban and Banihal.
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In the seven out of eight seats of the Jammu division, an intense face-off is likely to be witnessed between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the National Conference-Congress alliance. However, in Banihal, the contest is within the INDIA bloc parties of Congress, NC and the PDP. Viqar Rasool of Congress, a two-time legislator is up against Sajad Shaheen of NC and PDP’s Imtiyaz Shan, who is striving to exploit the acute competition between the other two and emerge as a dark horse in the contest.
According to local residents, the redrawing of assembly constituencies after the recent delimitation exercise has changed their demography, forcing political parties to rework their strategy and choice of candidates, PTI reported.
The main political parties contesting the election in J&K are the Congress, National Conference, BJP, Peoples’ Democratic Party, Apni Party, CPI(M), J&K People’s Conference, and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party. The BJP released its manifesto, while the Congress promised five “guarantees” to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Voting in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to be held in three phases – September 18, September 25 and October 1. The second phase will include 26 constituencies, covering districts like Srinagar, Poonch, and Rajouri. In the final phase, voting will be held in 40 constituencies, including Bandipora, Baramulla, and Jammu.
The counting of votes will be carried out on October 8 and results will be declared subsequently.
(With inputs from PTI)