Jammu & Kashmir polls: Stage set for 2nd phase; Omar Abdullah, Ravinder Rana among candidates in fray

Former J&K CM Omar Abdullah is in the fray in the second phase of polling

The stage is set for the second round of voting in Jammu and Kashmir's three-phase elections, with 26 constituencies going to polls on September 25.

The constituencies voting on Wednesday are spread over six districts – three in the Valley and three in the Jammu division.

Over 2.5 million voters will seal the fate of 239 candidates in the fray. "To facilitate smooth and hassle-free electoral participation, the Election Commission of India has established 3,502 polling stations in these segments. There are 1,056 urban polling stations and 2,446 rural polling stations," an official said.

Among the prominent candidates in the fray are National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah, JKPCC president Tariq Hamid Karra and BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina.

Omar Abdullah, who was initially reluctant about contesting the polls, is now fighting from the Ganderbal and Budgam seats. Karra is contesting from Central Shalteng while Raina is looking to retain his Nowshera seat in Rajouri district which he won in the 2014 assembly polls.

Ganderbal is set to witness a high-voltage clash since jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay will take on Abdullah in the constituency. Wagay is hoping to pull off an upset, similar to Engineer Rashid's victory over Abdullah in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Baramullah. Barkati is contesting from the Beerwah and Ganderbal segments.

Other key candidates in this phase are Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari (Channapora), former ministers Ali Mohammad Sagar (Khanyar), Abdul Rahim Rather (Chrar-i-Sharief), and Choudhary Zulfikar Ali (Budhal) and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari (Surankote).

Choudhary Zulfikar Ali and Syed Mushtaq Bukhari are contesting on BJP tickets this time.

In the first phase of polling, held on September 18, an estimated 61.38 per cent of the electorate cast their ballots. The third and final phase will be held on October 1. The votes will be counted on October 8.

During this phase, 93 candidates are in the fray in Srinagar district, followed by 46 in Budgam district, 34 in Rajouri district, 25 in Poonch district, 21 in Ganderbal district and 20 in Reasi district.

The constituencies in Srinagar district are Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Central Shalteng and Eidgah.

The segments in Budgam district are Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-I-Sharief and Chadoora while there are two constituencies in Ganderbal district -- Kangan (ST) and Ganderbal.

The seats going to polls in Jammu division are Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (in Reasi district), Kalakote-Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST) (in Rajouri district), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli and Mendhar (ST) (Poonch district).