Jammu and Kashmir is all set for its third and the largest phase of the assembly elections on Tuesday where the fate of 415 candidates will be decided by 39.18 lakh voters across 40 seats and 5,060 polling stations.
The newly formed union territory is witnessing the assembly polls for the first time. The last time the erstwhile state went to polls was in 2014. This time the election is being held in three phases.
In a statement, the UT’s chief electoral officer (CEO) Pandurang K Pole said different enforcement agencies in J&K have made total seizures worth Rs 130 crore during the ongoing assembly elections till now.
“The Police Department has made the highest seizure of Rs 107.50 crore followed by CGST with Rs 9.88 crore, SGST/CT with Rs 8.03 crore, NCB with Rs 2.06 crore, Income tax department with Rs 87 lakh and State Excise Department with Ra 50 lakh,” it said.
In addition, late on Sunday, the J&K election office suspended 23 officials besides disengaging six contractual/adhoc employees for violating model code of conduct (MCC) guidelines, taking cognisance of government employees’ participation in election campaigning and related political activities.
Also, 20 employees against whom there were complaints of acting in a partisan way have been shifted to offices in other tehsils or districts.
More than 39.18 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise during the final phase across 40 assembly constituencies in seven districts of the union territory.
In the second phase, held on September 25, at least 26 assembly constituencies across six districts of Jammu and Kashmir went to polls.
Over 25.78 lakh voters were eligible in the phase held across 3,502 polling stations locking the fate of 239 candidates.
Under the first phase, held on September 18, the fate of 219 candidates was determined by over 23.27 lakh voters in 24 assemblies across seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
24 seats in Jammu, 16 in Kashmir
Of the 40 seats under the third phase, 16 are from the Kashmir division – Karnah, Tregham, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara, Langate, Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Wagoora-Kreeri, Pattan, Sonawari, Bandipora, and Gurez.
From the Jammu division, there are 24 constituencies – Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenni, Ramnagar, Bani, Billawar, Basohli, Jasrota, Kathua, Hiranagar, Ramgarh, Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah, Suchetgarh, RS Pura, Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Akhnoor, and Chhamb.
“The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm… Also, the voting will continue even after 6.00 pm, if the voter’s queue is still there in the Polling Station premises to exercise their right to vote,” the CEO said.
The results for the three phases will be declared on October 8.
169 crorepatis in fray; 67 of 415 candidates have criminal cases
The average of assets per candidate contesting in the third phase is Rs 2.76 crore, with at least 169 crorepatis in the fray, according to a report from the Jammu and Kashmir Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).
Released earlier this month, the report also said that out of 415 candidates, 67 (16%) have declared criminal cases against themselves.
“At least 52 (13%) have declared serious criminal cases against themselves,” it said, adding that five candidates have declared cases of attempt to murder (IPC section 307).
Of the 40 seats, 11 (28%) are red alert constituencies – where three or more contesting candidates have declared criminal cases against themselves.
