415 Candidates Remain in Fray for Third Phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

A total of 415 candidates are contesting for 40 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir's third election phase on October 1. This follows the end of the nomination withdrawal period. The third phase covers districts like Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, and Jammu in the Jammu region, along with Baramulla, Bandipora, and Kupwara in north Kashmir.

The chief electoral officer's office stated that out of 449 valid nominations, 34 candidates withdrew by September 17. Consequently, 415 candidates remain for the final phase. Kupwara district saw the highest number of withdrawals at 16, followed by Baramulla with six. Jammu and Bandipora districts each had four withdrawals.

Candidate Distribution Across Districts

In Jammu district, 109 candidates are still in the race. Baramulla follows with 101 candidates, while Kupwara has 59. Bandipora has 42 candidates remaining, Udhampur has 37, Kathua has 35, and Samba district has 32 candidates left in contention. These numbers reflect the distribution after the withdrawal deadline.

Overall, the assembly elections feature a total of 873 candidates vying for seats across three phases. The first phase on September 18 involved 219 candidates competing for 24 seats. The second phase on September 25 had 239 candidates contesting for 26 seats. The third phase will see the remaining 415 candidates competing for the final set of seats.

The electoral process is progressing smoothly as planned. Each phase is crucial for determining the representatives across various constituencies. The upcoming elections are significant for shaping the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.