Jammu & Kashmir will vote for 26 seats in Phase 2 on September 25. This brings the total votes cast to 50 seats, with 40 more to be held on October 1 in the final phase. Following a decade of unrest, a high turnout of 61.38% was recorded in Phase 1.

The participation of numerous independents and smaller parties suggests enthusiasm and a willingness to integrate into mainstream Indian politics, which is promising for our democracy.
Bread-and-butter issues such as unemployment, inflation, and development dominate the discourse, with voters opting for ballots over bullets.

Leaders from major political parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the National Conference (NC), the People's Democratic Party (PDP), the Congress, and other regional players, have been actively addressing public rallies, highlighting their agenda and promising development and stability for the region.S

A total of 239 candidates are contesting for 26 seats, averaging 9.2 candidates per seat - similar to 2014. Fifteen of these seats are in the Kashmir Valley, including in the districts of Srinagar, Budgam, and Ganderbal. Habbakadal has the highest number of candidates, with 16 contesting, while Budhal has the lowest, with just four.

In Jammu, 11 seats are up for grabs, including in districts such as Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi. Eight of these seats are in Muslim-majority areas, bordering the valley. In Poonch, Hindus make up 7% of the population; in Rajouri, they constitute 35%; while in Reasi, the population is almost equal.

Candidates in the fray include 20 from........

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