Jammu and Kashmir Begins Second Voting Phase

The second phase of voting in Jammu and Kashmir has begun covering 26 constituencies across six districts as part of a three phase Assembly election. 

The initial phase recorded a voter turnout of 61.38%. Approximately 2.578 million voters are set to decide the fate of 239 candidates in the Kashmir Valley’s Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam districts, as well as the Jammu region’s Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch districts. Among the voters, there are about 1.312 million men, 1.265 million women, and 53 third-gender voters. 

Notable candidates include former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from the National Conference running in both Budgam and Ganderbal; BJP chief Ravinder Raina for the Nowshera seat; and Tariq Hamid Karra president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee from the Central-Shalteng seat. Enhanced security measures are in place at polling stations, with special arrangements for the elderly, women and voters with disabilities.