In a significant step towards the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024, the scrutiny of nomination papers for 26 Assembly Constituencies, scheduled for polling in the second phase, was conducted on Friday across six districts of the Union Territory. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), out of the 309 candidates who filed nominations, 266 candidates have been declared valid following the scrutiny process.
The office of the Chief Electoral Officer issued a statement detailing the outcomes of the scrutiny. In Srinagar district, nomination papers of 99 candidates were validated, while Budgam district saw 55 candidates cleared. In Rajouri district, 39 candidates received the green light, followed by 30 in Poonch district, 22 in Reasi district, and 21 in Ganderbal district.
In Reasi, the scrutiny confirmed six valid candidates for the 56-Gulabgarh (ST) constituency, nine for the 57-Reasi constituency, and seven for the 58-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi constituency. Rajouri district saw 11 valid nominations in 83-Kalakote–Sunderbani, five in 84-Nowshera, 12 in 85-Rajouri (ST), five in 86-Budhal (ST), and six in 87-Thannamandi (ST).
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Poonch district’s scrutiny resulted in 10 valid nominations in 88-Surankote (ST), nine in 89-Poonch Haveli, and 11 in 90-Mendhar (ST). In Ganderbal, six candidates were validated for 17-Kangan (ST), and 15 for 18-Ganderbal. Meanwhile, Srinagar district saw nomination papers of 13 candidates accepted for 19-Hazratbal, 10 for 20-Khanyar, 17 for 21-Habbakadal, 11 for 22-Lal Chowk, nine for 23-Channapora, 11 for 24-Zadibal, 15 for 25-Eidgah, and 13 for 26-Central Shalteng.
Budgam district had 12 valid nominations for 27-Budgam, 14 for 28-Beerwah, 11 for 29-Khansahib, 11 for 30-Chrar-I-Sharief, and seven for 31-Chadoora.
Candidates have until September 9, 2024, at 3:00 PM to withdraw their nominations. The second phase of polling is scheduled for September 25, 2024, with voting to take place from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.