Jammu & Kashmir
New Delhi, Aug 16: The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the poll dates for the upcoming Assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir on Friday.
Jammu & Kashmir will hold elections in three phases. The first phase starts on September 18, followed by the second on September 25, and the final phase on October 1.
Haryana will conduct its Assembly elections in a single phase on October 1, coinciding with the last phase of polling in Jammu & Kashmir.
87.09 Lakh Voters in J&K to Vote in 3 Phases
The elections in Jammu & Kashmir will cover key regions in the second phase, including Srinagar, Ganderbal, Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi. The final phase will include north Kashmir, Udhampur, Jammu, and Kathua.
Jammu & Kashmir has 90 Assembly constituencies, with 74 general seats, seven reserved for SCs, and nine for STs. The ECI reported a total of 87.09 lakh voters in the Union Territory, including 44.46 lakh males and 42.62 lakh females. The list also includes 3.71 lakh first-time voters and 20.7 lakh young voters.
J&K People Choose Ballot Over Bullet, Says ECI
Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, while addressing a press conference, highlighted the enthusiasm among J&K residents for participating in the elections. “People showed great eagerness to be part of the democratic process,” Kumar said.
He noted that the long queues during the Lok Sabha elections indicated a strong desire for change and participation. “The people of Jammu & Kashmir have chosen the ballot over the bullet,” he remarked.
During the Lok Sabha elections, J&K witnessed a three-decade high voter turnout of 58.58%. Kumar emphasized the strong political participation, especially from young, old, and women voters, as reflected in long queues at polling booths.
The Supreme Court had directed the ECI to conduct elections in Jammu & Kashmir by September 30. This order was part of its ruling on petitions challenging the revocation of J&K’s special status. The court upheld the Central government’s decision to nullify Article 370 and urged steps to restore statehood.
Haryana’s Assembly elections will align with the final phase in Jammu & Kashmir on October 1. Assembly elections are also due in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The legislative terms of Haryana and Maharashtra expire on November 3 and November 26, respectively, while Jharkhand’s term ends in January next year.
Earlier, speculation had been rife over the election dates for Jammu & Kashmir, especially after the Supreme Court set a September 30 deadline for holding the assembly polls.
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