A total of 239 candidates are in the fray from 26 constituencies in six districts, where polling will be held on September 25 in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections, as 27 candidates withdrew their candidature on Monday, the last day for withdrawal.
The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K said that the highest nine candidates withdrew their nomination in Budgam district, six candidates in Srinagar district, five candidates each in Rajouri and Poonch districts, two in Reasi district while no candidate withdrew nomination in Ganderbal district.
In the process, the final electoral fray has been left with 93 candidates in the Srinagar district, followed by 46 in Budgam district, 34 in Rajouri district, 25 in Poonch district, 21 in Ganderbal district, and 20 remaining in the final fray in the Reasi district.
In the Reasi district, six candidates remain in final electoral fray for election in the Gulabgarh (ST) seat, seven in the Reasi seat, while 7 candidates remain in the fray in the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly seat. In Rajouri district, 11 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in the Kalakote-Sunderbani seat, five candidates in the Nowshera seat, eight candidates in the Rajouri (ST) seat, four candidates in the Budhal (ST) seat, while 6 candidates remain in the fray in Thannamandi (ST) seat.
In the Poonch district, eight candidates are left in the final electoral fray for election in the Surankote (ST) seat, eight candidates in the Poonch Haveli seat while 9 candidates are left in the fray in Mendhar (ST).
Similarly, in the Ganderbal district, six candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in the Kangan (ST) seat and 15 candidates in the Ganderbal seat. In Srinagar district, 13 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in the Hazratbal seat, 10 candidates in Khanyar, 16 candidates in Habbakadal, 10 candidates in Lal Chowk, eight candidates in Channapora, 10 candidates in the Zadibal seat, 13 candidates in Eidgah seat, while 13 candidates remain in the fray in Central Shalteng.
In Budgam district, eight candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in Budgam seat, 12 in Beerwah, 10 in Khansahib seat, 10 in Chrar-i-Sharief while six candidates remain in the fray in Chadoora.
Altogether 309 candidates had filed their nomination papers before the respective Returning Officers in 26 Assembly constituencies before the last date of filing nominations on September 5. Of them, nomination papers of 266 candidates found valid during scrutiny held on September 6.
While the first phase goes to vote on September 18, the second phase will vote on September 25, and the third and last phase on October 1. Counting will take place on October 8.
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