J&K Assembly elections 2024 phase 3: Jammu and Kashmir is all set to hold the third and final phase of elections for its 90-member Assembly on October 1, with campaigning coming to an end on Sunday. Assembly elections are being held in the region for the first time in a decade.

The first phase of voting took place on September 18, while the second phase concluded on September 25. On Tuesday, voting will take place in 40 constituencies. The counting of votes will be conducted on October 8 and results are expected to be announced after that, according to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The main political parties contesting the election are the Congress, National Conference, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Apni Party, CPI(M), J&K People’s Conference, and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party.

More than 3.9 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 40 constituencies spread across seven districts. Voting will be conducted between 7 am and 6 pm and security measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth and peaceful process. At least 415 candidates from various parties and independent candidates, including former deputy chief ministers Tara Chand (Congress) and Muzaffar Hussain Beig, are in the fray in the third phase.

Also Read: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024 Full Schedule: Date, Time, Constituency List, Candidates List, Results

A total of 5,060 polling stations have been set up across the seven districts, including Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, and Jammu. Each polling station will have a team of four election staff, including a Presiding Officer, summing up to over 20,000 polling staff deployed for this phase.

In Jammu, 24 seats will see a close contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, while in North Kashmir, 16 seats will see competition between INDIA bloc candidates from the National Conference-Congress and representatives from the Jammu Kashmir People’s Conference and Awami Itihad Party.

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The seats going to polls in Kashmir are Karnah, Trehgam, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, and Gurez (ST).

In Jammu division, the constituencies going to polls are Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, Ramnagar (SC), Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua (SC), Hiranagar, Ramgarh (SC), Samba, and Vijaypur, Bishnah (SC). Suchetgarh (SC), R S Pura, Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC), and Chhamb are the other constituencies going to polls in the region.