The second phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s Assembly elections, set to take place on Wednesday, September 26, has been marred by tragedy. A vehicle on election duty met with an accident near Tuksan in the Gulabgarh area of Reasi district, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and injuries to another. The incident, confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Mahajan, serves as a stark reminder of the risks faced by election staff.
The second phase will see voting for 26 Assembly seats across six districts, including prominent constituencies like Budgam, Ganderbal, and Nowshera. The fate of several prominent political figures hangs in the balance, including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is contesting from both Budgam and Ganderbal seats. BJP J&K unit chief Ravinder Raina is also contesting from the Nowshera seat, while Congress leader Tariq Hamid Karra is vying for the Central-Shalteng seat.
In light of the accident and the high-stakes elections, security measures have been heightened across the state. Over 13,000 polling staff have been deployed to 3,500 polling stations across the 26 constituencies. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has established 3,502 polling stations, including 1,056 urban and 2,446 rural stations, to ensure smooth and hassle-free voting for all.
The third phase of elections, covering 40 seats, will be held on October 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 8. The accident, however, casts a somber mood on what is already a crucial election cycle for Jammu and Kashmir.
