Over 7,000 poll workers and thousands of security personnel deployed for polling in central Kashmir

To ensure smooth conduct of the exercise, roads were blocked across central Kashmir around polling material distribution centers including electronic voting machines. Poll workers started arriving at the distribution center in the morning and the exercise was completed in the afternoon and poll workers along with materials including EVMs were dispatched to vehicles parked near the center since yesterday

To ensure a smooth vote, we have multiple layers of security in place.
These include police, armed police and central paramilitary force personnel who were sent to polling stations early this morning. Sensitive areas have been identified and additional troops have been stationed in these areas to prevent any disturbances.
VK Birdi, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, said: “Safety of voters is our top priority and we have made meticulous arrangements to create a hassle-free atmosphere at every polling station.”
“Voters were able to come out and vote in large numbers without hesitation. We are determined to make this election process as smooth and safe as possible.”
After polls close tomorrow, the electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be stored in the vault, which has been digitally monitored around the clock to ensure their security and integrity. The ECI has also put in place stringent monitoring measures, including webcasting at every polling station, to increase transparency.
All polling stations will be equipped with webcasting facilities, a major step taken by the ECI to maintain transparency in the electoral process. The webcast will allow election officials to monitor voting in real time and resolve any issues promptly. This technological intervention is expected to increase confidence in the voting process and ensure that electoral fraud is minimized. Click here to watch the video
Tomorrow, around 1.5 million voters will decide the fate of 160 candidates in this phase in 15 assembly constituencies in central Kashmir: 17-Kangan (ST); 18-Ganderbal; 19-Hazratbal; 20-Kani Yar; 21-Habakadar; 22-Lal Chowk; 23-Chanapora; 24-Zadibar; 25-Eid; 26-Shatten Central; 27-Badgam; 28-Bir 29-Hansahib; 30-Chrar-i-Sharief and 31-Chadoora spread across three districts of Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal.
There are a total of 14,96,556 million voters at this stage, including 7,515,72 million male voters, 7,44,941 million female voters, and 43 voters of the third gender.
Srinagar district has 93 candidates in the fray, followed by Budgam district with 46 candidates and Ganderbal district with 21 candidates.
In Srinagar district, 13 candidates are contesting in Hazratbal; Hanyal has 10 candidates; Habakadal has 16 candidates; 22-Lal Chowk has 10 candidates; 23-Channapora has 8 candidates; 24 -Zadibal 10 candidates; 25 Eid 13 candidates; 13 candidates contesting in 26-Central Shalteng.
In Budgam district, 8 candidates are contesting in 27-Budgam district; 28-Beerwah has 12 candidates; 29-Khansahib has 10 candidates; 30-Chrar-i-Sharief has 10 candidates; while 6 candidates People are contesting in 31-Chadoora.
In Ganderbal district, 6 candidates are contesting from Kangan (ST) and 15 candidates are contesting from Ganderbal.
Srinagar district has a total of 7,76,674 registered voters, including 3,87,722 males, 3,88,922 females and 30 transgender voters, spread across 8 parliamentary constituencies. There are a total of 932 polling stations in these constituencies.
There are a total of 5,11,864 voters in the five parliamentary constituencies of Bugan district; 2,59,688 male voters, 2,52,163 female voters and 13 transgender voters. There are 639 polling stations in the district.
Ganderbal constituency has 2,08,018 registered voters, including 1,04,162 male voters and 1,03,856 female voters. A comprehensive network of 267 polling stations has been established here.
Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Key contestants in this phase include National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah from Ganderbal and Budgam constituencies, NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, former finance minister and NC leaders Abdul Rahim Rather, former Speaker and North Carolina leader Mubarak Gul, former HDP ministers Aasia Naqash and Ghulam Nabi Ghulam Nabi Hanjoora, Apni Party Chairman Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, former minister Hakeem Mohammad Yasin and Jailed separatist leader Sarjan Ahmad Wagay (Barkati) is contesting in Ganderbal and Bhilwa constituencies.