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Preparations are underway for the second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir that is to be held on September 25 on the 26 Assembly seats.
Security arrangements have been tightened with CCTV surveillance installed to ensure fair polling in the UT. From the pink polling stations of Kalakote-Sundarbani assembly constituency, booth level officer Gurubachan Singh said, "The cameras are installed. For specially-abled voters, we have wheelchairs. We have created a selfie point to encourage voting." Meanwhile in J-K's Poonch district, polling parties have left or their respective polling booths with EVMs. The polling parties of Srinagar also collected their electronic voting machines (EVMS) and dispatched for their respective polling stations. Khalid Hussain Malik, returning officer of Zadibal Constituency said that the Election Commission of India in this assembly polls have stressed on the welfare of the polling parties and several kind of facilities shave been provided to them. He also informed that there are around 143 polling stations in Zadibal Constituency, making it the largest assembly constituency in the Srinagar district. Speaking to ANI, Dr Khalid Hussain Malik said, "EVMs and materials are being distributed. All poll parties have reached here. I think all poll parties will leave from here within the next 2 hours. There are 143 polling stations are there in Zadibal Constituency, it's the largest constituency in Srinagar district. I think we will leave sector-wise after 12 pm. Our formation will be sector-wise, which will consist of sector magistrates, sector police officials, zonal magistrates, zonal officers, etc. This time ECI have stressed on the welfare of the polling parties. Their bedding, lunch and dinner will also reach before them.... Additionally, refreshments will be given... overall, all welfare things have been taken care of..." Elections in the second phase of assembly polls will be conducted on 26 assembly seats in six districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The seats on which elections will be conducted are Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, Central Shalteng, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharief, Chadoora and Gulabgarh (ST). It will also be conducted on Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote - Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli and Mendhar (ST). Notably, the second phase of elections will decide the fate of former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and NC leader Omar Abdullah, from both Budgam and Ganderbal seats. Other prominent candidates in the fray include Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina from Nowshera assembly seat and Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra from Central-Shalteng seat. The first phase of voting was completed in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18, with a voter turnout of 61.13 percent registered across 24 constituencies in seven districts, as per the Election Commission. Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1 respectively. Vote counting will be conducted on October 8 along with the counting of votes in Haryana. (ANI)
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