As on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir experienced a historic moment: the second phase of assembly elections began. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged participation on X, stating, “Today marks the second phase of voting for the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. I urge all voters to participate and play a vital role in strengthening our democracy. I also congratulate all the young voters casting their ballots for the first time!”
This election signifies a crucial turning point. Specifically, voters in 26 assembly constituencies across six districts, three in the Kashmir Valley and three in the Jammu division are participating in the first assembly election in a decade. After over six years of Central rule and the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, the stakes have never been higher.
Notable candidates include former chief minister Omar Abdullah, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra, BJP’s Jammu and Kashmir chief Ravinder Raina, and Apni Party President Altaf Bukhari. Each candidate brings unique perspectives, which further reflect Jammu and Kashmir’s diverse landscape.
Voting commenced at 7 AM. Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India established a robust framework to facilitate the process. They set up 3,502 polling stations, including 1,056 urban and 2,446 rural stations. To ensure security, police, armed police, and central paramilitary forces are present at polling sites. Moreover, each station features a multi-tier security arrangement to guarantee voter safety.
Furthermore, this election phase highlights inclusivity and innovation. Officials created 157 special polling stations, which include 26 “pink polling stations” staffed entirely by women, 26 for specially-abled individuals, and 26 targeting youth. In addition, there are 31 border polling stations, 26 green polling stations focused on environmental awareness, and 22 unique polling stations catering to community needs.
As voters cast their ballots today, they are not merely participating in an election; rather, they are actively shaping their region’s future and reinforcing democracy. Ultimately, every vote matters, and in this pivotal moment, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are making their voices heard loud and clear.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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