Campaigning in J&K to be over today
Newly created Rajouri-Poonch-Anantanag seat all set for tough fight
JAMMU, May 22: The high voltage campaigning for the Rajouri-Poonch-AnantanagLokSabha seat, the 5th constituency of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Union Territory (UT), will come to an end tomorrow evening, marking the conclusion of the 2024 Parliamentary elections in J&K.
Originally slated for polling in the third phase on May 7, the Election Commission of India (ECI) postponed the election for this seat due to a request from some parties citing inclement weather conditions. The polling is now scheduled for the 25th of this month.
Over 18.30 lakh eligible voters, including 8.99 lakh women and over 81,000 first-timers, will decide the fate of 20 contestants, including former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, MianAltaf of the National Conference (NC), ZaffarIqbalManhas of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party led by AltafBukhari, and Tariq Hamid Parray from GhulamNabi Azad’s party, in the fray for the prestigious seat.
The Rajouri and Poonch areas were part of the Jammu-PoonchLokSabha seat before delimitation created the new Rajouri-Poonch-Anantanag seat. This seat will be going to polls for the first time on May 25. The BJP had previously won the erstwhile Jammu-PoonchLokSabha seat in both 2014 and 2019. However, in the 2024 elections, the ruling BJP has not fielded a candidate for this seat. Instead, the BJP has run a sustained campaign through various programs, urging voters to defeat NC, PDP, and Congress, all part of the INDIA alliance.
With the election to this seat, the LokSabha elections will conclude in J&K, which has a total of five LokSabha seats. Meanwhile, sources have indicated that polling staff have been directed to reach their respective polling stations by Friday. Intense training has been imparted to the polling staff for this newly created seat, which has now become a focal point and a hot seat in J&K.
Army, Police held joint security meeting in Poonch ahead of polls
Poonch, May 24: Ahead of the 6th and final phase of LokSabha elections in the Anantnag-Poonch-Rajouri (APR) Parliamentary constituency on May 25, a high-level joint security review meeting was held by the top brass of the Army and Police in Poonch district.
The meeting was co-chaired by General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps, Lt-General NavinSachdeva, and Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain. It was attended by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Jammu, ADGP (Law and Order) Vijay Kumar, and various other formation commanders.
Defence Spokesman Jammu, Lt Col SuneelBartwal, stated that the meeting included comprehensive discussions to synergize ongoing operations and review preparations for the forthcoming elections. The focus was on enhancing coordination and ensuring robust security measures across the region.
Lt. Col Bartwal said that GOC 16 Corps and the DGP emphasized the importance of maintaining a high level of vigilance and preparedness to effectively address any potential security challenges.
“During the meeting, ADGPs and Formation Commanders provided valuable insights and updates on the current security situation and outlined strategic measures to bolster security protocols,” he said.
Lt. Col Bartwal further said that the joint security review meeting was aimed to maintain peace and stability in the region, ensuring the safety and security of all citizens. The leaders reiterated their resolve to work in unison and adapt to evolving security dynamics, he said.
“The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the collective commitment to safeguard the region and a pledge to continue collaborative efforts for enhanced security,” the spokesman said.
