Voting for the third and final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir today

Voting was held on for the third and final phase of assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir today. In this, 39.18 lakh voters decided the political fate of 415 candidates in 40 constituencies spread from the plains of Jammu to the mountains of Kashmir. Voting is to be held on 40 assembly seats in Jammu, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur districts of Jammu division and Baramulla and Kupwara districts of the valley. There are 11 assembly seats in Jammu district, three in Samba, six in Kathua and four in Udhampur, while there are seven seats in Baramulla, three in Bandipora and six in Kupwara district.

The Election Commission had set up 5,030 polling stations for voters for the third phase. Special polling stations had also been set up for Kashmiri displaced voters. Of these, 11 are in Jammu, four in Delhi and one in Udhampur district. Administrative and security preparations had been tightened for the elections. Considering the nearly 60 per cent polling in the first two phases, it was believed that a good number of votes will be cast in the last phase as well.

Some polling stations in Baramulla and Kupwara districts are located close to the Line of Control (LoC). Police officials said that adequate number of CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel have been deployed at the polling stations to ensure security of polling stations for polling personnel and voters.