Srinagar: The high-octane campaign for the third and final phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls ended on Sunday evening, with loudspeakers falling silent.
The political parties both regional and national, and independent candidates on Sunday made last-ditch efforts to woo the voters.
The stakes are high for the regional and national parties in the third and last phase of the election which will not only determine the fate of 415 candidates in the fray in 40 Assembly constituencies but will also substantiate which party could form the next government on October 8 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the 40 assembly seats, 16 in the Kashmir valley and 24 in Jammu, there are 39.18 lakh voters registered with the Election Commission. The Commission has set up 5060 polling stations in these Assembly constituencies falling across seven districts of Kupwara, Baramulla, Bandipora, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, and Jammu.
The high-pitched campaign saw star campaigners canvassing for votes, especially in the Jammu region. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Aditya Nath Yogi campaigned for the BJP, Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi and Malikarjun Kharge campaigned for their party candidates.
The regional leaders from the National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference, and others also campaigned for their candidates. PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti didn’t campaign for her party candidates on the last day to show “solidarity” with killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Prime Minister and other top BJP leaders in their address accused the Congress- NC, of being “soft” on terrorism and pushing the youth towards stone-pelting, a claim that has been dismissed by NC.
On the other hand, Rahul and Congress leaders focused on the restoration of J&K statehood, while the regional parties NC and PDP sought votes against the BJP constitutional decisions in 2019.
The other parties Awami Ittehad Party headed by Baramulla Member of Parliament Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who has been released on interim bail for the polls till October 2, Democratic Progressive Azad Party led by Ghulam Nabi Azad, Apni Party and Peoples Conference campaigned vigorously for the third phase of election in the three border district of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora.
There are 109 candidates in the final electoral fray in Jammu district, followed by 101 in Baramulla district, 59 in Kupwara district, 42 in Bandipora district, 37 in Udhampur district, 35 in Kathua district, and 32 candidates remain in the final fray in Samba district.
In Jammu division’s Udhampur district, 12 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Udhampur West, 9 in 60-Udhampur East, 9 in Chenani while 7 candidates remain in the fray in Ramnagar.
In Kathua district, 8 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Bani , 4 in Billawar , 4 in Basohli , 8 in Jasrota 5 in Kathua and 6 candidates remain in the fray in Hiranagar Assembly constituencies.
In Samba district, 7 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Ramgarh; 14 in Samba and 11 candidates remain in the fray in Vijaypur.
In Jammu district, 9 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Bishnah, 11 in Suchetgarh; 14 in R.S. Pura – Jammu South, 12 in Bahu, 9 in Jammu East, 8 in Nagrota, 12 in Jammu West, 17 in Jammu North, 6 in Marh, 3 in Akhnoor and 8 candidates remain in the fray in Chhamb Assembly Constituencies.
Similarly in Kashmir Division’s Kupwara district, 8 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Karnah; 10 in Trehgam ; 8 in Kupwara ; 11 in Lolab, 7 in Handwara; and 15 candidates remain in the fray in Langate.
In Baramulla district, 20 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Sopore; 12 in Rafiabad; 6 in Uri; 25 in Baramulla; 13 in Gulmarg ; 12 in Wagoora- Kreeri, and 13 candidates remain in the fray in 13-Pattan Assembly constituencies.
In Bandipora district, 18 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in Sonawari ; 19 in Bandipora; and 5 candidates remain in the fray in Gurez.
With this, a total of 873 candidates will be in the final fray in the Assembly Elections for 90 ACs, including 219 candidates for 24 ACs in the first phase, 239 candidates for 26 ACs in the second phase, and 415 candidates for 40 ACs in the third phase.
UNI
