Srinagar, Sept 29: Over 15 lakh voters will decide the fate of 202 candidates in the third and final phase of voting in Legislative Assembly elections in North Kashmir on Oct 1.
The prominent contestants in this phase are former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beg, former Minister Taj Mohiud-Din, former Minister and chief of Peoples Conference Sajjad Lone, former Minister and Apni Party leader Ghulam Hassan Mir, former Minister and PDP leader Syed Basharat Bukhari, former Minister and PC leader Imran Ansari, former Minister and NC leader Choudhary Ramzan and former MP and PDP leader Fayaz Ahmad Mir.
Security in north Kashmir has been intensified including along the LoC with Pakistan for the smooth conduct of the polls. The security forces are conducting area domination for the security of the poll staff and the voters across three districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora where there are over 15 registered voters in 16 Assembly constituencies.
Baramulla district has more than 7,22,923 registered voters, including 3,64,517 male, 3,58,394 female and 12 third gender voters and there are 908 Polling Stations across the district.
It comprises of seven Assembly constituencies of Sopore, Rafiabad, Uri, Baramulla, Wagoora-Kreeri, Gulmarg and Pattan. 20 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 7-Sopore; 12 in 8-Rafiabad; 6 in 9-Uri; 25 in 10-Baramulla; 13 in 11-Gulmarg; 12 in 12-Wagoora- Kreeri; while 13 candidates remain in the fray in 13-Pattan.
Among all the seven Assembly constituencies of the district, 10- Baramulla Assembly Constituency has the highest number of 1,26,321 registered electorate, comprising 63,338 males and 62,978 females and 5 transgender voters. To facilitate a smooth and inclusive voting experience for all registered voters the constituency also houses 158 Polling Stations, the highest number in the district.
The second highest number of electorates in the district, 8- Rafiabad Assembly constituency with a voter population of 1,13,011, among which 57,760 are males and 55,250 are females one voter is registered as transgender. A total of 149 Polling Stations have been set up in the constituency by ECI.
The 7- Sopore Assembly constituency comes next with 1,12,793 total registered voters, of which 55,990 are males and 56,803 are females and notably, no voters are registered under the third gender category in this constituency. A total of 129 Polling Stations have been set up in the constituency by ECI.
The 9-Uri Assembly constituency has registered 1,04,813 electorate, among which 53,872 are males and 50,941 are females and no third gender voter are registered in this constituency. A total of 147 Polling Stations have been set up in the constituency by ECI.
The 13-Pattan Assembly Constituency has 1,03,161 electorate among which 51,251 are males and 51,908 are females while 2 are third gender voters. To facilitate the voters of this constituency, 119 Polling Stations have been set up.
11-Gulmarg Constituency has a total of 90,376 voters, of which 45,524 are males and 44,851 are females besides one third gender voters are also registered here. A total of 108 Polling Stations have been set up in the constituency by ECI.
12-Wagoora-Kreeri Assembly constituency has registered 72,448 electorate, among which 36,782 are males, 35,663 are females and 3 transgender voters.
There are 540483 total registered voters in Kupwara district with 2,70,776 males, 2,69,697 females and 10 tansgenders. The ECI has established 622 Polling Stations across the district.
The district comprises six constituencies of 1-Karnah; 2-Trehgam; 3-Kupwara; 4-Lolab; 5-Handwara; and 6-Langate. 8 candidates are in the fray for election in 1-Karnah; 10 in 2-Trehgam; 8 in 3-Kupwara; 11 in 4-Lolab; 7 in 5-Handwara; while 15 candidates are in the fray in 6-Langate.
Karnah has a total of 57951 registered votes of which 29194 are males and 28755 are females with 2 transgenders and there are 77 Polling Stations.
Trehgam has a total of 78569 registered votes of which 39000 are males and 39569 are females with no transgenders and there are 91 Polling Stations.
Kupwara has a total of 94956 registered votes of which 47181 are males and 47772 are females with 3 transgenders and there are 92 Polling Stations.
Lolab has a total of 90392 registered votes of which 45319 are males and 45073 are females with no transgenders and there are 99 Polling Stations.
Handwara has a total of 98404 registered votes of which 50026 are males and 48376 are females with 2 transgenders and there are 120 polling stations.
Langate has a total of 120211 registered votes of which 60056 are males and 60152 are females with 3 transgenders and there are 143 polling stations.
The District Bandipora has a total of 2,59,893 voters including 1,32,679 male 1,27,208 female and 6 third gender voters. The ECI has established 312 polling stations, 46 as urban Polling Stations and 266 rural polling stations in the district.
The district comprises three Assembly constituencies – Sonawari, Bandipore and Gurez. 18 candidates are in fray for election in 14-Sonawari; 19 in 15-Bandipora; while 5 candidates in the fray in 16-Gurez (ST).
Among all the three Assembly constituencies of the district, 14-Sonawari Assembly Constituency has highest number of 1,21,276 registered voters, comprising 61,473 males, 59,799 females, and 4 transgender voters. A total of 137 polling stations are spread across this constituency with 23 urban and 114 rural, ensuring that every registered voter has opportunity to participate in democratic process
15-Bandipore comes next with a voter population of 1,16,326, among which 59,483 are male, 56,841 female and 2 third gender voters. There are 144 polling stations established in the constituency; 23 as urban polling stations and 121 rural Polling Stations.
16-Gurez Assembly constituency comes last with 22,291 registered voters; 11,723 male and 10,568 female. There are 31 rural Polling Stations across the constituency.
The voting will take place from 7.00 am to 6.00 pm.
