It's going to be BJP vs Congress in Jammu-Reasi constituency amid low-profile election campaign

The low-profile election campaign in the Jammu-Reasi Lok Sabha constituency of Jammu and Kashmir ended on Wednesday as political parties preferred corner meetings instead of big political rallies. Although 22 candidates are in the fray, this constituency will likely witness a straight contest between the BJP and the Congress.

Sitting Lok Sabha member Jugal Kishore Sharma, who is trying to make a hat trick on this seat, is a BJP candidate. The Congress has once again reposed faith in the working president of J&K Congress and former Minister Raman Bhalla.

Interestingly, two arch-political rivals in the Kashmir Valley Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference support the Congress candidate for this seat.

Over 17.80 lakh voters to decide fate of BJP and Cong candidates

Over 17.80 lakh voters will decide the fate of 22 candidates contesting from this constituency in the second phase of Lok Sabha polls to be held on April 26. The Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary constituency is spread over 18 Assembly segments in four districts, including Reasi, Samba, Jammu, and Rajouri.

According to the figures provided by the office of Returning Officer, there are 17,80,835 registered voters in this constituency, including 9,21,095 male, 8,59,712 females, and 28 transgender electors. Among these, 37,822 (37,025 male and 797 female) are service voters.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has set up 2,416 polling stations across the constituency including 18 Green Polling Stations, 46 Pink Polling Stations, and 18 PwD manned polling stations.

Reasi district with three Assembly Constituencies, including Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, has 23,52,62 voters including 12,33,23 male, 11,19,36 female, and three transgender voters. Among these 1393 are service voters (1364 male, 29 female).

The ECI has set up 425 polling stations across the district including 97 vulnerable and 16 critical.
Samba district, comprising three Assembly Constituencies including Ramgrah (SC), Samba, and Vijaypur has 2,59,198 voters, including 1,32,861 male, 1,26,336 female, and one transgender voter. Among these 10,269 (10,073 male, 196 female) are service voters. The ECI has set up 365 polling stations in the district, including 72 critical.

Similarly, Jammu district, comprising 11 Assembly Constituencies including Bishnah (SC), Suchetgarh (SC), R S Pura-Jammu South, Bahu, Jammu East, Nagrota, Jammu West, Jammu North, Marh (SC), Akhnoor (SC) and Chhamb has 11,89,389 electors, including 6,13,988 male, 5,75,378 female and 23 transgender voters. Among these are also 24,315 service voters (23,768 male, 547 female). The ECI has set up 1488 polling stations across the district, including 38 vulnerable and 15 critical.

Likewise, Rajouri district with only Kalakote-Sunderbani Assembly Constituency falling in Jammu PC, has 96,986 voters (50,923 male, 46,062 female) and one transgender voter. Among these 1845 (1820 male, 25 female) are service voters. The ECI has set up 138 polling stations in the Assembly Constituency, including 88 vulnerable and 14 critical.

The R S Pura-Jammu South Assembly Constituency has the highest number of 1,24,744 voters (64,687 male, 60,054 female), three transgender voters including 1592 service. The EC has set up 147 polling stations across this AC.

Similarly, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Assembly segment of Reasi district has the lowest number of 55,737 voters (29,340 male, 26,397 female including 271 service voters) and the election authorities have set up 91 polling stations across the segment.