India
Over 35,000 Kashmiri Pandits to vote in first phase of J&K elections | India News – Times of India
JAMMU: Over 35,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits from all over the country can vote 24 hours a day polling stations in the first phase of the three-phase Elections for the state assembly in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Elections will be held in 24 Assembly constituencies in seven districts on Wednesday to decide the fate of 219 candidates.
The displaced Kashmiri Pandits will exercise their franchise in 16 constituencies in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir.
“As many as 35,500 Kashmiri migrant voters will be allowed to cast their votes tomorrow at 24 special polling stations set up in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi for the first phase of the elections,” Dr Arvind Karwani, Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation, told PTI.
Dr Karwani, who is overseeing the election process, said 34,852 voters in Jammu are registered to exercise their franchise at 19 polling stations here.
Similarly, 648 Kashmiri migrant voters have been registered in Udhampur and Delhi to cast their votes at one polling station in Udhampur and four polling stations in Delhi, he said.
Although most of the Kashmiri Pandit population lives in Delhi, only a tiny number of about 600 have registered to vote in the elections.
“All arrangements have been made for free and fair elections tomorrow,” the relief and rehabilitation commissioner said.
Security has been tightened at all polling stations and arrangements have been made for the elderly, women and voters with disabilities, he said.
“Kashmiri migrant voters opt to vote in person through electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be given access to 24 polling stations, including 19 in Jammu, one in Udhampur and four in Delhi,” he said.
Amid tight security, authorities have handed over the ballot materials, including EVMs, to polling stations at Women’s College in Jammu. Security forces and election parties are being sent to their respective stations, officials said.
Six candidates from the community are participating in the first phase of the election.
Sanjay Saraf is contesting from Anantnag seat as Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP) candidate, BJP’s Vir Saraf, Apni Party’s MK Yogi and Dileep Pandita, an independent, are contesting from Shangus-Anantnag seat. Rosy Raina and Arun Raina are contesting as Republic Party of India and NCP candidates from Rajpora and Pulwama seats.
Around 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh youths, will decide the fate of leaders like Iltija Mufti (37), daughter of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from Srigufwara-Bijbehara, AICC general secretary and two-time minister Gulam Ahmed Mir (Dooru), four-time MLA and veteran CPIM leader MY Tarigami (Kulgam), former ministers – Congress MP Pirzada Sayeed (Anantnag) and NC’s Sakina Itoo (DH Pora).
The displaced Kashmiri Pandits will exercise their franchise in 16 constituencies in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts of south Kashmir.
“As many as 35,500 Kashmiri migrant voters will be allowed to cast their votes tomorrow at 24 special polling stations set up in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi for the first phase of the elections,” Dr Arvind Karwani, Commissioner for Relief and Rehabilitation, told PTI.
Dr Karwani, who is overseeing the election process, said 34,852 voters in Jammu are registered to exercise their franchise at 19 polling stations here.
Similarly, 648 Kashmiri migrant voters have been registered in Udhampur and Delhi to cast their votes at one polling station in Udhampur and four polling stations in Delhi, he said.
Although most of the Kashmiri Pandit population lives in Delhi, only a tiny number of about 600 have registered to vote in the elections.
“All arrangements have been made for free and fair elections tomorrow,” the relief and rehabilitation commissioner said.
Security has been tightened at all polling stations and arrangements have been made for the elderly, women and voters with disabilities, he said.
“Kashmiri migrant voters opt to vote in person through electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be given access to 24 polling stations, including 19 in Jammu, one in Udhampur and four in Delhi,” he said.
Amid tight security, authorities have handed over the ballot materials, including EVMs, to polling stations at Women’s College in Jammu. Security forces and election parties are being sent to their respective stations, officials said.
Six candidates from the community are participating in the first phase of the election.
Sanjay Saraf is contesting from Anantnag seat as Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJSP) candidate, BJP’s Vir Saraf, Apni Party’s MK Yogi and Dileep Pandita, an independent, are contesting from Shangus-Anantnag seat. Rosy Raina and Arun Raina are contesting as Republic Party of India and NCP candidates from Rajpora and Pulwama seats.
Around 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh youths, will decide the fate of leaders like Iltija Mufti (37), daughter of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, who is contesting from Srigufwara-Bijbehara, AICC general secretary and two-time minister Gulam Ahmed Mir (Dooru), four-time MLA and veteran CPIM leader MY Tarigami (Kulgam), former ministers – Congress MP Pirzada Sayeed (Anantnag) and NC’s Sakina Itoo (DH Pora).
