Finally, Delhi uncorks Kashmir poll genie

3-phase J&K poll starting September 18; voting in Haryana on October 2; results on October 4

- Gaurav Vivek

The Election Commission on Friday announced a three-phase poll schedule for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, where the last elections were held 10 years ago, and a single-phase election in Haryana. The elections for Maharashtra, where the term of the Assembly is ending on November 26, and for Jharkhand, where it ends on January 5, 2025, are to be announced separately.

This will be Jammu and Kashmir's first Assembly election since its special status under Article 370 and 35(A) was revoked and its statehood withdrawn in 2019. Out of the 90 Assembly seats in the Union Territory, as many as 24 seats will vote on September 18, 26 on September 9 and 40 on October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 4.

Among the constituencies in J&K, as many as 74 are reserved for general category, nine for Scheduled Tribes and seven for Scheduled Castes.