Udhampur Readies for Historic Post-370 Assembly Polls: Udhampur’s 3rd Phase Elections Blend Security and Inclusivity for 4.22 Lakh Voters”

Arun Jasrotia
Udhampur,TDD :- In a significant democratic exercise, Udhampur district is poised for the third phase of the 2024 Assembly Elections, with over 4.22 lakh voters ready to cast their ballots. This election marks a pivotal moment in the region’s history, being the first assembly polls since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcate into two Union Territories i.e Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh in 2019.
The district administration has established 654 polling stations across four assembly constituencies: Udhampur West, Udhampur East, Chenani, and Ramnagar (SC) with a total of 4,22,298 registered voters, including 2,21,262 males and 2,01,036 females.
In a bid to boost voter turnout and ensure accessibility, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has introduced specialized polling stations, including Pink Polling Stations, Youth Polling Stations, PwD-manned Polling Stations, Green Polling Stations, Unique Polling Stations and Model Polling Stations.
In Assembly Constituency 59- Udhampur West has 1,15,655 voters (59,726 male and 55,929 female) with 184 polling stations.Similarly, 60- Udhampur East has registered 1,00,690 electorate, among which 52,611are males and 48,079 are females. A total of 157 polling stations have been set up in the constituency.Likewise, 61-Chenani Assembly Constituency has 1,09,174 electorate among which 57,746 are males and 51,428 are females. To facilitate the voters of this constituency, 155 polling stations have been set up.62- Ramnagar(SC) Assembly Constituency has a 96,779 voter population. Among these, 51,179 are males and 45,600 are females besides. 158 polling stations have been set up in the constituency. Currently, there are no registered transgender voters in the district.101 venerable Polling stations declared by District Administration Udhampur.
Security measures have been significantly enhanced, particularly in light of recent militant activities in the Dudu and Basantgarh areas. A robust force comprising Central Armed Forces, Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police, and District Police officers has been strategically deployed throughout the district. The administration’s primary focus remains on conducting a free, fair, and transparent election.
Innovative surveillance techniques have been implemented to maintain the integrity of the electoral process. Thirty-six static surveillance teams and an equal number of flying squads are conducting rigorous checks to prevent voter influence through illegal means. Additionally, CCTV cameras have been installed along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, and other Locations of Udhampur district with live feeds monitored at various control rooms.
This election is particularly significant as it follows the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A in August 2019, which led to the reorganization of the former state. The number of Assembly seats in the region has increased from 83 to 90 following a delimitation process, excluding those for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
As Udhampur prepares for this historic vote, the blend of heightened security, technological surveillance, and inclusive polling measures underscores the administration’s commitment to fostering a robust democratic process in the region.TDD