Your complete guide to Jammu & Kashmir Assembly polls 2014

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections are scheduled to be held on November 25. The election will be held in five phases. The model code of conduct has come into the effect. The results will be declared on December 23.

Here are some facts

• Total Assembly seats: 87 seats
• Total electorate: 1,051,642 (Men 550,350, women 501,281, Third Gender-11)
• Total candidates: 123 (Women candidates: 2)
• Constituency with maximum number of candidates: Bhaderwah and Bandipora (13 each)
• Constituency with minimum number of candidates: Leh (2)
• Largest assembly constituency (electorate wise): Bhaderwah
• Smallest assembly constituency (electorate wise): Nubra

Dates for five-phase Polling

• First phase: 25 November
• Second phase: 2 December
• Third phase: 9 December
• Fourth phase: 14 December
• Fifth phase: 20 December

Parties: The main parties in the ring are -

• National Conference (NC) led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
• People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mehbooba Mufti,
• National parties Congress and BJP have not declared their CM candidates.

Some facts at glance

• Unlike other States of India, members of the J&K assembly are elected for a six year term as opposed to the common five year format.
• The term of the 87-member Jammu and Kashmir assembly ends on January 19.
• The ruling National Conference (NC) is facing anti-incumbency factor.
• NC has been in power for 3 full-terms, while the PDP and the Congress have enjoyed little, each having shared 3 years in power from 2002-08.
• The BJP has never been significant (despite considerable support in Jammu)
• J&K is divided into its three major geographic zones, Jammu, Ladakh and the Kashmir valley.
• The more populous Kashmir region bags 46, Jammu 37 and Ladakh only 3 seats.
• In the past 3 elections (1996, 2002, 2008), J&K has always given an anti-incumbency mandate.

Issues:

• Among others, issues that have dominated the electoral process in the state are the self rule or autonomy for J&K, militancy, presence of security forces.
• Issues like development, unemployment, education, electricity and water are also crucial.
• The issue of unemployment among the youth poses a big challenge for the political parties.

Assembly Election 2008:

• Last Assembly polls were held in December 2008.
• National Conference emerged as largest party in the polls winning 28 out of 87 seats.
• PDP was on second place with 21 seats.
• Congress with 17 seats came third.
• BJP with 11 seats was at fourth spot.
• National Conference failed to achieve majority mark of 44 seats. It formed the Government with the support of Congress.

Lok Sabha Election 2014:

• Out of six Parliamentary seats, BJP won three and PDP three.
• The Congress and National Conference could not even retain single seat.