27 Candidates Withdraw from J&K Assembly Elections, 239 Remain in Fray

JAMMU, Sept 9: As the withdrawal period for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024 came to an end, a total of 27 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving 239 candidates in the final race across 26 Assembly Constituencies (ACs). These candidates will contest the elections scheduled for 25 September 2024.

According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K UT, out of 266 valid nominations, 27 candidates withdrew by the deadline on Monday, September 9. The highest number of withdrawals was recorded in Budgam district, where 9 candidates opted out, followed by Srinagar with 6 withdrawals. Rajouri and Poonch districts each saw 5 candidates withdraw, Reasi 2, while no candidates withdrew in Ganderbal district.

After these withdrawals:

– Srinagar district : leads with 93 candidates.

– Budgam district : follows with 46 candidates.

– Rajouri district :has 34 candidates.

– Poonch district :has 25 candidates.

– Ganderbal district: has 21 candidates.

– Reasi district : has 20 candidates.

In a more detailed breakdown:

– Ganderbal AC has the highest number of candidates with 15, while Budhal AC in Rajouri has the lowest at 4.

– In Reasi district : 6 candidates remain for Gulabgarh AC, 7 each for Reasi and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ACs.

– In Rajouri district : Kalakote–Sunderbani AC has 11 candidates, while Budhal AC has the fewest with 4.

– Poonch district : sees 9 candidates in Mendhar AC, the most in the district.

– Srinagar district : continues to have significant participation, with Hazratbal AC fielding 13 candidates, Habbakadal AC with 16, and others like Khanyar and Lal Chowk having 10 each.

Initially, 309 candidates filed their nominations across the 26 Assembly Constituencies before the deadline on September 5, 2024. Following scrutiny and withdrawals, the number has now dropped to 239 candidates.