Over 7,000 polling staff and thousands of security personnel have taken positions across 1,838 polling stations in Central Kashmir’s 15 Assembly constituencies, as the region gears up for the second phase of Assembly elections scheduled for tomorrow. The constituencies span across the districts of Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal, where voting will decide the fate of 160 candidates.
Polling staff began arriving at distribution centers early in the morning, with the exercise completed by afternoon. The distribution centers were heavily secured, with roads around them blocked to ensure smooth operations. Polling staff, accompanied by electronic voting machines (EVMs), were dispatched to polling stations by vehicles parked near the distribution centers since yesterday.
Multi-Tier Security Blanket
To ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the elections, a multi-layered security arrangement has been put in place. The security force deployment includes personnel from the local police, armed police, and Central paramilitary forces. Sensitive areas have been identified, with additional forces stationed in these locations to prevent any disruptions.
“The safety of voters is our top priority,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, VK Birdi. “We have made elaborate arrangements to create a fear-free atmosphere at each polling station. Voters can come out in large numbers without hesitation.”
EVMs Secured with Round-the-Clock Surveillance
Post-election, strong rooms where EVMs will be stored have been secured with round-the-clock digital surveillance to safeguard their integrity. In addition, all polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities, allowing real-time monitoring by election officials to ensure transparency and prompt response to any issues.
15 Lakh Voters to Decide the Fate of 160 Candidates
An estimated 14,96,556 voters—including 7,51,572 male voters, 7,44,941 female voters, and 43 third-gender voters—are eligible to cast their ballots in tomorrow’s election. Polling will take place from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Srinagar District has the highest number of voters with 7,76,674 registered voters, spread across 932 polling stations in eight constituencies. Budgam District has 5,11,864 voters in five constituencies, and Ganderbal District has 2,08,018 voters across two constituencies.
Prominent Candidates in the Fray
Some of the prominent candidates include:
Omar Abdullah, National Conference (NC) Vice President, contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam.
Ali Mohammad Sagar, NC General Secretary.
Abdul Rahim Rather, former NC Finance Minister.
Mubarak Gul, former Speaker and NC leader.
Aasia Naqash and Ghulam Nabi Hanjoora, former ministers from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Chief of the Apni Party.
Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, former minister.
Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (Barkati), jailed separatist leader contesting from two constituencies: Ganderbal and Beerwah.
Webcasting for Transparency
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has ensured that all polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities to bolster transparency and maintain public confidence in the voting process. This initiative is aimed at minimizing electoral malpractices and ensuring that the elections proceed smoothly.
The results of tomorrow’s polling will shape the future political landscape of Central Kashmir as voters across 15 constituencies make their voices heard.
