J&K To Vote In Three Quick Phases - Shortest Election In Two Decades

Jammu & Kashmir will witness its shortest election in at least two decades, with the Election Commission announcing a three-phase poll for the Union Territory.

The election will be held on September 18, 25, and October 1, with results announced on October 4.

Following the delimitation, the assembly now has 90 seats, including 43 in the Jammu region and 47 in Kashmir. Of these, 74 are general seats, nine are reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, and seven for Scheduled Tribes.

The voter count stands at 87.09 lakh, with 44.46 lakh men and 42.62 lakh women. The final electoral roll will be published on August 20.

The three-phase election is significant, especially considering the region's security concerns. Previous elections in the state, before the 2019 bifurcation, were spread over more phases: four in 2002, seven in 2008, and five in 2014.

The state's division in 2019 created the Union Territory of Ladakh and left J&K with 90 assembly seats, down from 111, which previously included four seats from Ladakh.

Despite recent terror attacks and the expectation of a larger pool of candidates, the decision to hold the election in just three phases is surprising.

Typically, the Election Commission spreads voting across more phases in regions with complex security situations, as seen in past elections in J&K and states like Chhattisgarh, affected by left-wing extremism.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, reflecting on the decision, recalled the successful conduct of Lok Sabha polls in the UT and the enthusiasm observed during the Commission's recent visit to J&K.

He said, "We saw great enthusiasm to participate in democracy. All political parties and stakeholders were hopeful polls would be held early in the state. We are here today to fulfill and take that hope forward."

Kumar also noted that the decision to hold polls in three phases was deliberately made to keep the process brief, learning from the criticism faced during the prolonged Lok Sabha elections.