Voting for second phase begins amid tight security

The voting for the second phase for Jammu and Kashmir polls started at present at 7 a.m. amid tight security throughout 26 districts within the Union Territory. A complete of 239 candidates are within the fray as over 2.5 hundreds of thousands voters are set to determine their destiny in three districts of Ganderbal, Srinagar and Budgam and the Jammu area’s Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch districts. 

The voting will conclude at 6 p.m. 

Key candidates within the second phase

Political bigwigs who’re contesting the J-Okay polls embody — former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and National Conference vp Omar Abdullah from each Budgam and Ganderbal seats, Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina from Nowshera meeting seat and Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra from Central-Shalteng seat.

Aijaz Hussain, BJP candidate from Lal Chowk meeting constituency, exuded confidence within the get together’s victory and mentioned, “People have gained confidence in the democratic set-up…I am hopeful that the public will vote for development…I am confident that the BJP will emerge victorious from the Lal Chowk Assembly constituency…I appeal to voters to come out and vote in large numbers…”

#WATCH | Srinagar, J&Okay: BJP candidate from Lal Chowk Assembly constituency, Aijaz Hussain says, “People have gained confidence in the democratic set-up…I am hopeful that the public will vote for development…I am confident that the BJP will emerge victorious from the Lal Chowk… pic.twitter.com/JhVrvEIvJD

— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024

Meanwhile, BJP’s Ravinder Raina casted his vote and expressed confidence within the get together’s triumph within the polls. 

#WATCH | J&Okay BJP chief and get together’s candidate from Nowshera constituency, Ravinder Raina says, “BJP is getting a lot of support from the people. People have been standing in queues to cast their votes since early morning. This is a festival of democracy. I have full faith in the… https://t.co/N654cO1dq3 pic.twitter.com/4Ni7V1t5KN

— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024

In a dialog with ANI, Raina mentioned, “BJP is getting a lot of support from the people. People have been standing in queues to cast their votes since early morning. This is a festival of democracy. I have full faith in the work that has been done by PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in J&K. I have faith that the people of J&K will vote for BJP in large numbers…Whoever is the CM, it will be acceptable…”

Meanwhile, visuals confirmed voters queuing up at a polling station in Budgam Assembly constituency to train their voting rights. 

#WATCH | J&Okay: People queue up at a polling station in Budgam Assembly constituency to vote within the second phase of the Assembly elections at present.

Eligible voters in 26 constituencies throughout six districts of the UT are exercising their franchise at present.

(Visuals from polling… pic.twitter.com/ZhaBRFmUSa

— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2024

Earlier at present, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to the voters of Jammu and Kashmir to forged their votes and play roles in strengthening the democracy. 

जम्मू-कश्मीर में आज विधानसभा चुनाव के दूसरे दौर की वोटिंग है। सभी वोटर्स से मेरी अपील है कि वे अपना वोट जरूर दें और लोकतंत्र को मजबूत बनाने में अपनी अहम भूमिका निभाएं। इस अवसर पर पहली बार वोट डालने जा रहे सभी युवा साथियों को मेरा अभिनंदन!

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 25, 2024

“Today is the second phase of voting for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I appeal to all voters to cast their votes and play their important role in strengthening democracy. On this occasion, I congratulate all the young friends who are going to vote for the first time!” PM Modi wrote on ‘X’. 

The Jammu and Kashmir meeting polls, that are being held in three phases, started on Septmber 18 and registered a voter turnout 61.13%. The voting for 40 seats in third phase can be held on October 1 and the counting of votes can be carried out on October 8. 

This is the primary time in previous 10 years that the polls are being carried out within the Union Territory after the abrogation  of article 370.