Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, Sep 23 (KINS) : The high-octane campaigning for the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s Assembly elections concluded on Monday evening.
As the dust settles, over 25.78 lakh voters are set to cast their ballots on September 25, deciding the fate of 239 candidates in 26 Assembly constituencies spread across six districts, Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Budgam in Kashmir Division, and Reasi, Rajouri, and Poonch in Jammu Division.
An official from the Election Commission confirmed the smooth end to the electioneering. “No untoward incidents were reported during the campaigning. Advance teams of security and polling staff, along with election materials, are being dispatched to remote and snow-bound areas to ensure free and fair voting,” the official stated.
Following this phase, the third and final phase of the Assembly elections will take place on October 1, with counting scheduled for October 8.
News agency KINS reported that Major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Congress, National Conference, PDP and the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), intensified their efforts to woo voters, with Article 370 emerging as a key issue.
The BJP, which led the move to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019, positioned itself as the party responsible for restoring peace and bringing unprecedented development to the region.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leading the BJP’s charge, addressed a rally in Srinagar, urging voters to support the party for continued progress.
“We have brought peace by ending Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, stone-pelting is history, and Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing record-breaking tourist arrivals. This is just the beginning of our vision for the region,” Modi had said during the election rallies.
As per the KINS, in addition to the Prime Minister, BJP’s high-profile leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP President J.P. Nadda, also campaigned across key constituencies, emphasizing the party’s achievements in security, tourism, and infrastructure.
The Congress, led by its star campaigners Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, countered the BJP’s narrative by focusing on the “unfulfilled promises” made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Meanwhile, DPAP leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, along with regional players such as the National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), campaigned aggressively to retain their influence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Throughout the campaign, security remained tight, with additional personnel deployed to ensure the safety of candidates and star companies of the political parties.
As the stage is set for September 25, political observers predict a tough contest across many constituencies, with high voter turnout expected in both urban and rural areas.(KINS)
High-voltage campaigning ends in JK Ahead of second phase of Assembly Elections
