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21 polling booths for Kashmiri migrants in Jammu. 2338 polling stations including 2116 in rural & 222 in urban areas.
86,394 first-time voters and 540 centenarians in the constituency.
RAJOURI, MAY 23 :–All preparations have been completed for the smooth conduct of polling in Anantnag-Rajouri Parliament Constituency (PC) in the 6th phase on Saturday -May 25, which is the only PC in J&K that falls in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The election of newly carved out Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, which is the most watched election in UT of J&K will not only decide the fate of prominent political parties-National Conference & PDP- but it would also be a litmus test for Kashmiri, Gujjar-Bakerwal and Pahari speaking voters.
Following the 2019 J&K Reorganisation Act was passed & J&K state was divided into two Union Territories (UTs- J&K and Ladakh), a process was started for fresh delimitation of Assembly & Lok Sabha constituencies.
To narrow the gap of Assembly & Lok Sabha constituencies between Kashmir & Jammu divisions, Delimitation Commission increased Assembly Constituencies (AC,) seats from 83 to 90 (6 are in Jammu & 1 in Kashmir now) and now Kashmir division has 47 Acs & Jammu 43 Acs.
Similarly, instead of 3 PCs in Kashmir and 2 in Jammu division, Delimitation Commission kept 2 PCs each for Jammu and Kashmir divisions and made the 5th Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri PC which covers both the provinces.
The campaigning for the 6th phase of the Lok Sabha election ended on Thursday at 5 pm.
As 7 Assembly Constituencies of Rajouri (4) and Poonch (3) border districts are clubbed with Anantnag-Rajouri PC, there are threats of terror attack (s) and shelling from across the LoC.
For free, fair, and smooth conduct of elections, both the administrations have deployed 167 additional companies of CAPF.
District Election Officer (Deputy Commissioner) Rajouri, Om Parkash Bhagatsaid that out of 542 polling booths in the district, 278 are vulnerable while 45 are under direct shelling from across the LoC while in Poonch district out of 171 polling stations 55 are situated along LoC .
“In case of shelling, bullet proof vehicles of Police Army & CAPF have been kept in ready position to shift the voters to alternate polling stations already planned, ” said DEO.
He added there are 5 villages in the district which falls between LoC and fence & out of these five, the voters from high school Sair & middle school Makri will be shifted to bunkers-which are converted as alternate polling stations- in case of any mishappening/shelling.
There are 389721 eligible voters in 4 Assembly Constituencies namely Rajouri, Budhal, Thanamandi & Nowshera, out of which 202809 are male and 7 are transgenders.
As per Election Commission 18 polling stations in Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat are managed entirely by women and people with disabilities (PwD).
Out of the eligible 18.36 lakh electorate, 9,33,647 are male, 9,02,902 female, and 27 third-gender voters.
There are 86,394 first-time voters in the constituency, and 540 centenarians.
Out of 2338 polling stations in the constituency, 2116 are in rural area and 222 in urban areas.
21 polling stations and eight auxiliary centers have been set up in Jammu for about 27000 eligible migrant voters (Kashmiri Pandits) to cast their votes in the May 25 election for the Anantnag-Rajouri PC.
21 candidates are in the fray for the 3-Anantnag-Rajouri PC, including former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti (PDP); former minister and prominent Gujjar leader Mian Altaf (NC); Zaffar Manhas (J&K Apni Party), and advocate Mohammad Parray (DPAP).
Pahari leader Zaffar Manhas is banking on support from the Pahari community & BJP and allies to bolster his numbers.
A tough triangular contest is expected between Mehbooba Mufti, Mian Altaf and Zaffar Manhas in this seat and Mian Altaf has the edge with support of traditional NC voters & Pahari voters, who are still confused in the absence of a BJP candidate.
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