The second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections is underway today, with voters across six districts heading to the polls. A total of 26 constituencies are up for election in this phase, with over 2.5 million voters set to determine the fate of 239 candidates. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3,502 polling stations to ensure a smooth electoral process, including 1,056 in urban areas and 2,446 in rural regions. All stations are equipped with webcasting facilities to promote transparency in the voting process.
Polling, which began at 7 a.m., will continue until 6 p.m. Security forces, including the police, armed police, and central armed paramilitary units, have been deployed at polling booths to ensure the safety of voters and the smooth conduct of the elections.
Notable candidates in this phase include former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hamid Karra, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ravinder Raina. Their participation adds significant weight to this critical phase of the election.
The first phase of voting, held on September 18, saw a 61.13% voter turnout across 24 constituencies in seven districts, reflecting strong engagement from the electorate. The second phase will now continue to build on this momentum as voters in Jammu, Kashmir, and the surrounding regions cast their ballots.
As the day unfolds, long lines of voters can be seen at various locations, particularly in Jammu, Srinagar, and Ganderbal, with facilities such as the Government Middle School in Katra witnessing substantial turnout.
In total, there are 2,578,099 eligible voters for this phase, which includes 1,312,730 male voters, 1,265,316 female voters, and 53 third-gender voters. District administrations have made comprehensive arrangements at polling stations to facilitate free, fair, and transparent elections.
The final phase of polling is scheduled for October 1, with vote counting set to take place on October 8.