As voting for the second phase of the Lok Sabha Elections is underway, tight security arrangements have been implemented in the Jammu constituency. Over 17.81 lakh eligible voters are poised to cast their ballots, deciding the fate of 22 candidates.
Polling is currently underway in 88 constituencies spread across 13 states and Union Territories in the second phase of the seven-phase 18th Lok Sabha elections. At 2,416 polling stations across the constituency, voting commenced at 7 am and is reportedly progressing smoothly, according to officials.
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After the abrogation of Article 370 and the division of the erstwhile state into Union territories on August 5, 2019, this is the first significant electoral contest being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir. Incumbent MP Jugal Kishore Sharma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vying for a third consecutive term in the Lower House of Parliament after winning the 2014 and 2019 elections. The other key candidates contesting for this seat against Sharma are Raman Bhalla from the Congress and Ankur Sharma from the Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal.
22 candidates are contesting for the Jammu Lok Sabha seat in this election, with a direct contest expected between incumbent MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and Raman Bhalla, the working president of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress, representing the INDIA bloc.
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Meanwhile, voters were seen making their way to polling stations early in the morning, with long queues observed at various locations in Jammu city. Over 15,000 polling personnel, along with reserves, have been deployed, while comprehensive security measures are in place to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections.
“Security and other related arrangements are in place to ensure free, fair and peaceful voting. A contingency plan has also been worked out to ensure no disruption in polling along the borders,” Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole said.
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After Udhampur, which underwent polling on April 19 with a recorded voter turnout exceeding 68 per cent, Jammu is the second constituency in the Jammu and Kashmir region to go to polls.
A total of 17,80,835 voters are enrolled in the Jammu Lok Sabha constituency, including 9,21,095 men, 8,59,712 women, and 28 third-gender voters. Among them are 10,498 differently-abled voters and 666 voters aged above 100 years, PTI reported.
Across the four districts of Jammu, Samba, Reasi, and Rajouri (including the Kalakote-Sunderbani Assembly segment), a total of 2,416 polling stations have been set up, with 158 along the International Border and the Line of Control (LoC).
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Jammu recorded a voter turnout of 74 per cent.
Other prominent candidates include Jagdish Raj of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and advocate Ankur Sharma of the Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal. Sharma secured victory over Bhalla by a margin exceeding three lakh votes in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
