Jammu and Kashmir: Voting underway for second phase of Assembly polls

Voters across 26 constituencies are casting their votes in this phase where former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is one of the prominent contestants.

Voters will seal the fates of 238 candidates in the second phase of the election in the UT.

In the second phase, the People’s Democratic Party fielded 26 candidates, followed by the National Conference with 20.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has cast 17 and the Congress fielded six candidates for the 238 seats that are up for grabs.

Jammu and Kashmir is voting after a decade during which the special status of the erstwhile state was scrapped by Centre through the scrapping of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019.

170 independent candidates are also contesting in the phase.

The first phase of the election was held on September 18.

A record 60.21 per cent of voters had cast their votes in the first phase.

Indian PM Narendra Modi urged voters to cast their votes and strengthen demoncracy.

"Today is the second phase of voting for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I appeal to all voters to cast their votes and play their important role in strengthening democracy. On this occasion, I congratulate all the young friends who are going to vote for the first time!" he said.

Voting in the third phase f polling will take place on October 1.