Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024: Final phase of voting begins across 40 key seats

Jammu and Kashmir assembly election 2024: The third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections is being held today, with over 3.9 million eligible voters casting their ballots across 40 assembly constituencies. Out of these, 24 constituencies are in the Jammu region and 16 in Kashmir. The voting process, which commenced at 7 am, will continue until 7 pm in the Valley, and will determine the outcome for 415 candidates in this crucial phase.

The Election Commission of India has established 5,060 polling stations across the union territory to facilitate smooth and orderly voting. To ensure security and maintain law and order throughout the process, authorities have significantly bolstered security arrangements.

In these elections, the political landscape is being shaped by several key players. The National Conference and the Congress Party have entered into an alliance, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are also vying for control of the assembly, making this an intense political contest.

One of the pivotal aspects of this election is the participation of historically marginalized groups such as Pakistani refugees, the Valmiki Samaj, and the Gorkha community. These groups were granted voting rights in the union territory following the abrogation of Article 370, and their involvement could significantly influence the outcome of the election.

Several prominent candidates are in the fray in this third phase. These include Sajjad Lone, chairman of the People’s Conference and a former minister, as well as Dev Singh, the president of the National Panthers Party India. In addition, various sitting ministers from Jammu and Kashmir are contesting, such as Raman Bhalla from R S Pura, Usman Majid from Bandipora, Nazir Ahmad Khan from Gurez, Taj Mohiuddin from Uri, Basharat Bukhari from Wagoora-Kreeri, Imran Ansari from Pattan, Ghulam Hassan Mir from Gulmarg, and Choudhary Lal Singh from Basohli.

As the voting concludes today, the exit polls for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are expected on October 5, with the final results slated to be declared on October 8. The outcome of this election will have far-reaching implications for the political future of the union territory.