Srinagar: Voting for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections commenced on Wednesday with heightened security measures in place. A total of 26 constituencies across Srinagar, Budgam, Rajouri, Poonch, Ganderbal, and Reasi districts are participating in the election.
Key candidates include former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina, and state Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra, all of whom are testing their electoral fortunes. Abdullah is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam, Karra from Central Shalteng, and Raina from Nowshera.
With 25.78 lakh voters set to decide the fate of 239 candidates, polling is taking place across 3,502 booths, including 1,056 in urban and 2,446 in rural areas. Webcasting is being used at all polling stations to ensure transparency, and voting will continue until 6 pm.