• EC announces Assembly poll dates for J&K and Haryana; three-phase voting for J&K, single-phase for Haryana

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    EC announces Assembly poll dates for J&K and Haryana; three-phase voting for J&K, single-phase for Haryana
    This election in Jammu & Kashmir is particularly significant as it marks the first assembly election in the region since the abrogation of Article 370…

    Digital Desk: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced the much-awaited schedule for the assembly elections in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. 

    Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during a press conference in New Delhi, revealed that the elections in Jammu & Kashmir will be conducted in three phases, while Haryana will see a single-phase poll.

    Jammu & Kashmir Poll schedule
    Jammu & Kashmir, which has been under the president’s rule following the abrogation of Article 370, will hold its first assembly elections since 2014. The union territory will witness a three-phase voting process, beginning with the first phase on 18th September, followed by the second phase on 25th September, and the final phase on 1st October. 

    The counting of votes for all phases will be conducted on 4th October.

    The elections will cover all 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu & Kashmir, out of which 74 are general constituencies, 7 are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), and 9 for Scheduled Tribes (ST). A total of 87.09 lakh voters are eligible to vote, including 44.46 lakh males, 42.62 lakh females, 3.71 lakh first-time voters, and 20.7 lakh young voters.

    In the first phase, regions such as Pulwama, Anantnag, Shopian, Kulgam, Ramban, Kishtwar, and Doda will go to the polls. 

    The second phase will cover Srinagar, Ganderbal, Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi, while the third and final phase will see voters from North Kashmir, Udhampur, Jammu, and Kathua casting their ballots.

    Haryana's Single-Phase Poll
    In Haryana, elections will be held in a single phase on 1st October for all 90 assembly seats. This polling date coincides with the third phase of elections in Jammu & Kashmir. The results for Haryana will be announced on 4th October.

    The announcement of the election schedule followed the ECI’s recent visit to both states to review preparations. CEC Rajiv Kumar underscored the commission’s commitment to conducting the elections efficiently and in a timely manner.

    This election in Jammu & Kashmir is particularly significant as it marks the first assembly election in the region since the abrogation of Article 370 and the fall of the PDP-BJP coalition government in 2018. The Supreme Court had previously directed the central government to ensure that the elections were concluded by 30th September 2024.