Candidates in second phase of Jammu and Kashmir elections face criminal cases. Assembly elections 2024. National conference of BJP and PDP – India TV

Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: At least 20 percent of the candidates in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections face criminal charges, including murder and rape allegations and charges of other serious crimes, according to affidavits submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Which party candidates will face charges in the second phase?

The accused include four members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), four members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), two members of the Congress and one of the National Conference (NC).

47 candidates face criminal charges

Of the 238 candidates contesting in the second phase of the elections in Jammu and Kashmir, 47 are facing criminal charges. Among them, seven candidates are accused of crimes against women, one of them of rape. In addition, 37 candidates are facing other criminal cases, while three are accused of murder.

What are red alert constituencies?

Due to these candidates, the ECI has classified eight constituencies as red alert constituencies. As per ECI guidelines, any constituency where three or more candidates are facing prosecution must be classified as red alert.

The educational qualifications of the candidates are strikingly low. On average, they have a school leaving certificate between the 5th and 12th grades, and one candidate stated that he was illiterate.

114 of the candidates have a university degree or higher, six have a diploma. The age distribution includes 84 candidates between 25 and 40 years, 105 between 41 and 60 years and 49 between 61 and 80 years.

3 candidates are running in the 2nd phase of the election

Only three women candidates are contesting in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.

The main contest in this phase is between the BJP and the NC-Congress alliance; the PDP is also competing.

When will elections be held in Jammu and Kashmir?

Voting for the second phase is scheduled for September 25 (Wednesday), and the third and final phase for October 1 (Tuesday).

When will the vote count take place in JK?

The votes will be counted on October 8 (Saturday).

Jammu and Kashmir, after a recent redistricting, has 90 seats in the Legislative Assembly, of which 47 are in Kashmir division and 43 are in Jammu division, including nine seats in ST and seven in SC.