J&K Lok Sabha Election Phase 2: Key constituencies and candidates

The Election Commission of India (EC) has stated that it is impossible to tamper with EVMs "at any stage".

Jammu, one of the six constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, will vote in the second phase of the 18th Lok Sabha election on April 26.

BJP candidate Jugal Kishore Sharma is facing Congress leader Raman Bhalla and DPAP’s G M Saroori in the second phase of the Lok Sabha Election. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Sharma defeated Bhalla with a 20.48% victory margin. The BJP leader also won the 2014 Lok Sabha election from the Jammu seat. Jagdish Raj from BSP and advocate Ankur Sharma of Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal are also in the fray.

The state will vote in five of the seven phases. Voting was held in Udhampur on April 19. Meanwhile, Phase will be held on May 7 in Anantnag-Rajouri, Phase 4 on May 13 in Srinagar voting and finally, voting in Phase 5 in Baramulla will be held on May 20.

Also check: Darjeeling Lok Sabha Election Phase 2: Key seats and candidates

Udhampur witnessed 58 percent turnout on April 19. The BJP fielded Union Minister Jitendra Singh as its candidate. He faced Congress leader and two-time former MP Choudhary Lal Singh and six independents.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are the first major poll in J&K after the withdrawal of Article 370.

Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (JKPDP) and Congress are contesting the poll as part of the INDIA bloc. The BJP is contesting on all five seats alone. Meanwhile, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, and Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference are also in fray.

According to reports, the J&K has a total of 86.93 lakh voters. This includes 42.58 lakh women and 161 people who identify as the third gender.