As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its upcoming assembly elections, Udhampur district is ramping up efforts to ensure a smooth and secure voting process. The Election Commission conducted training for polling staff at the Government Degree College in Udhampur on Monday, while local authorities have implemented stringent security measures.
Amod Ashok Nagpure, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Udhampur, outlined the administration’s commitment to facilitating free, fair, and transparent elections.
“Four constituencies of Udhampur district (Udhampur East, Udhampur West, Chenani and Ramnagar) will be going to Poll on 1st October 2024 in third Phase of Assembly Election in Jammu and Kashmir. In this regard, tight security measures are put in place, and our priority is to conduct free, fair and transparent elections and we want each and every voter to participate enthusiastically in the elections. Along with it, we are trying to create a fear-free and peaceful atmosphere so that this democratic process can be conducted easily by political parties and voters. In this regard, we have demanded for more CRPF personnel and personnel from J-K armed forces will also be deployed, additionally, the district administration will also be deployed, ” SSP Nagpure said.
Nagpure detailed a two-pronged security approach: pre-poll measures focusing on candidate safety and area control, and poll-day strategies ensuring the integrity of polling stations and transport routes. “Flying Squad and Static Surveillance teams will be deployed at key points, and we’re taking strict action against individuals with criminal records,” he added.
The J&K Assembly elections are scheduled across three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting slated for October 8. The union territory boasts 90 assembly constituencies, including 7 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and 9 for Scheduled Tribes, with a total electorate of 88.06 lakh eligible voters.
These elections mark a significant milestone as the first to be held in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. In the previous assembly polls, the People’s Democratic Party secured 28 seats, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party with 25, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference with 15, and the Congress with 12 seats.
(Inputs from ANI)