J&K Assembly Elections 2024: Omar Abdullah, Ravinder Raina, Tariq Karra and Barkati Among 239 Candidates in Fray in 2nd Phase of Polls
J&K Assembly Elections 2024: Omar Abdullah, Ravinder Raina, Tariq Karra Among 239 Candidates in Fray in 2nd Phase of Polls
Over 2.5 million voters will decide the fate of 239 candidates in the fray for 26 Jammu and Kashmir assembly seats in the second phase of the election to be held in the Union territory on Wednesday.
These assembly constituencies are spread over six districts – three in the Valley and as many in the Jammu division.
Voting will take place from 7 am to 6 pm. Key names in the fray for this phase are former chief minister Omar Abdullah, JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra and BJP J-K chief Ravinder Raina. Abdullah is contesting from the Ganderbal and Budgam seats, while Karra is contesting from Central Shalteng. Raina will be trying to retain his Nowshera seat in Rajouri district which he won in the 2014 assembly polls. The second phase will be watched keenly as jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay alias Barkati is hoping to repeat Engineer Rashid’s Lok Sabha poll feat against the National Conference leader.
Barkati is contesting from the Beerwah and Ganderbal segments.
Popularly known as Rashid Engineer, Sheikh Abdul Rashid contested the parliamentary polls held earlier this year from Tihar jail and still managed to defeat Abdullah by a margin of more than two lakh votes from the Baramulla constituency. Other key candidates in this second phase of assembly polls are Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari (Channapora), former ministers Ali Mohammad Sagar (Khanyar), Abdul Rahim Rather (Chrar-i-Sharief), and Choudhary Zulfikar Ali (Budhal) and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari (Surankote). Choudhary Zulfikar Ali and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari are contesting on BJP tickets this time.
Security tightened across UT ahead of second phase of polling on 26 seats
The security has been tightened in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the second phase of Assembly elections scheduled for Wednesday (September 25). With heightened concerns over potential disruptions, authorities have deployed additional security personnel in various sensitive areas to ensure a peaceful voting process.
As part of the safety measures, security forces are conducting thorough checks on vehicles entering and exiting the region. Several checkpoints have been established to monitor movements and prevent any unlawful activities. The police and paramilitary forces are working together to secure polling stations and maintain law and order in the region. Local authorities have urged residents to cooperate with security protocols ahead of elections. With Rajouri being one of the key districts in this election, security measures are expected to remain stringent through the completion of the polling process.
Elections in the second phase of Assembly polls will be conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Here’s the list of 26 seats
- Ganderbal
- Hazratbal
- Khanyar
- Habbakadal
- Lal Chowk
- Channapora
- Zadibal
- Eidgah
- Central Shalteng
- Budgam
- Beerwah
- Khansahib
- Chrar-i-Sharief
- Reasi
- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi
- Kalakote – Sunderbani,
- Nowshera
- Chadoora
- Poonch Haveli
- Rajouri (ST)
- Budhal (ST)
- Thannamandi (ST)
- Surankote (ST)
- Mendhar (ST)
- Kangan (ST)
- Gulabgarh (ST)