As campaigning for the first phase of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections is drawing towards closure, the Election Commission on Wednesday issued notification for the fourth phase of polls to be held in 18 constituencies spread in four districts of the State.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his former counterpart Mufti Muhammad Sayeed’s fate would be decided in the fourth phase of polls besides that of a battery of incumbent minister and legislators.
The elections are held in five phases in the embattled State as votes will be cast in the inaugural phase on November 25. The fourth phase is crucial to watch the behaviour of the voters in capital Srinagar that has the tradition of boycotting the polls. The recent devastating floods have compounded the issues in the city where election activity is nowhere visible.
The ruling National Conference has bagged all eight seats in the previous election, a major factor that catapulted Omar Abdullah to power with the Congress support.
The Opposition PDP is trying hard to make inroads in the capital. Omar Abdullah is contesting from Sonwar constituency though he is the party candidate from Beerwah constituency of Budgam as well.
The constituencies going to pollsin the fourth phase include Hazratbal, Zadibal, Idgah, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Amirakadal, Sonawar and Batamaloo in Srinagar District, Anantnag, Doru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam in Anantnag District, Shopian and Wachi in Shopian District and Samba (SC) and Vijaypur in Samba district.