Polling staff and security forces have arrived at their assigned polling stations in six Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections districts for the second phase of Assembly elections, beginning at 7 a.m. on Wednesday for 26 seats.
Ex-KDF Minister Hakim Mohammad Yaseen is running for elections in the Khansahib constituency of Budgam district. The Jammu and Kashmir Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra is running for the Central Shalteng constituency.
Senior police officials in Jammu and Srinagar stated that security forces were adequately deployed to ensure the safety of polling stations, control the surrounding areas, and facilitate the movement of voters and poll workers to different polling stations.
Over 4,000 elite Para Commandos are stationed in heavily forested and mountainous areas of Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi districts in Jammu division to prevent terrorists from disrupting Wednesday’s election.
In terms of security, Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal districts pose fewer challenges for security personnel compared to the three districts in the Jammu division.
Reports indicated that all election officials, electronic voting machines, and other voting supplies had arrived at the polling stations in the six districts scheduled to vote on Wednesday. Security forces have seized control of polling stations to guarantee the safety of both polling staff and voters.
In the Valley, there are 15 Assembly constituencies set to vote – Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, Central Shalteng, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharief, and Chadoora. In Jammu division, there are 11 Assembly constituencies including Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi ( ST), Surankote(ST), Poonch Haveli, and Mendhar (ST).
Based on the most recent electoral records, a total of 25,78,099 million voters have the eligibility to vote in this round, which includes 13,12,730 million male voters, 12,65,316 million female voters, and 53 third gender voters.
In this stage, there are 93 candidates competing in Srinagar, with 46 in Budgam, 34 in Rajouri, 25 in Poonch, 21 in Ganderbal, and 20 in Reasi.
The EC has set up 3,502 polling stations, with 1,056 in urban areas and 2,446 in rural areas.
In order to increase voter turnout, 157 special polling stations have been set up in the second phase, with 26 polling booths operated by women as Pink Polling Stations, 26 manned by specially-abled individuals, 26 manned by young people, 31 Border polling stations, 26 green polling stations, and 22 Unique Polling stations.