Jammu and Kashmir is bracing for the outcome of its first Assembly elections since being reorganised as a Union Territory in 2019, with stringent security measures in place across for the counting of votes on Tuesday.
Authorities have implemented a three-tier security setup at all 20 counting centres across Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring a secure and smooth counting process.
Every person entering the facility will undergo thorough security checks, and only those with valid passes, such as authorised counting agents and election officials, will be allowed inside the halls.
Security forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Jammu and Kashmir Police, and other paramilitary units, have been deployed in and around the counting centres.
In addition to physical security, CCTV cameras and drones are being used to monitor movement and ensure there are no disturbances.
Mobile signal jammers are also in place to prevent any external tampering or unwanted communication that could disrupt the counting process.
Additional security forces have been deployed at sensitive districts and constituencies.
In these areas, the presence of Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) and anti-riot squads has been increased to ensure peace during and after the vote-counting process.
These elections, conducted after a 10-year gap, are the first since the revocation of J&K’s special status under Article 370 and its bifurcation into two Union Territories – J&K and Ladakh.
The polls, held in three phases, will determine the fate of 873 candidates vying for the 90-seat Legislative Assembly.
The first phase of polling, conducted on September 18, saw 24 constituencies go to the polls.
The second phase, held on September 25, covered 26 seats.
The final phase on October 1 involved the remaining 40 constituencies.
Voter turnout in these elections was recorded at 63.45 percent, slightly lower than the 65.52 percent turnout seen in the 2014 assembly polls.
This slight dip in voter participation is attributed to security concerns and mixed feelings among the population regarding the political changes in the region.
The fate of several key political figures will be decided when the votes are counted.
National Conference (NC) Vice President and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is contesting from the Budgam and Ganderbal constituencies, Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari is contesting from Channapora, and Sajad Gani Lone of the People’s Conference (PC) is vying for seats in Handwara and Kupwara.
Other prominent figures in the fray include J&K Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra, who is contesting from Central Shalteng, J&K BJP President Ravindra Raina contesting from Nowshera, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter, Iltija Mufti, who is contesting from Bijbehara and PDP chief spokesman Waheed Para who is contesting from Pulwama.
Exit polls have predicted an advantage for the NC-Congress alliance, which is expected to emerge as the largest bloc, with the NC predicted to win a significant number of seats.
Meanwhile, the BJP is forecasted to emerge as the single largest party from the Jammu region but is not expected to achieve a majority.
The PDP, which was the largest party in the 2014 elections with 28 seats, is expected to see a major decline, potentially securing fewer than 10 seats this time around.
The new and emerging political entities including former union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Bukhari’s Apni Party, Lone’s PC, and Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), along with independents, are expected to play a more marginal role, winning around 10 seats collectively.
