MUZAFFARABAD (Web Desk) – Over 2.6 million people will exert their right to vote in Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, taking the position on Thursday.
A total of 2,674,586 people, 1,483,747 men and 1,190,839 women will be moving towards polling stations on the Election Day (July 21) from AJK’s nine districts and 12 constituencies of Kashmiri refugees, spreading over four provinces of Pakistan to cast their ballots, according to data published by the Election Commission of AJK.
District Kotli surpasses AJK’s all districts in a number of voters with 442,839 people 246,230 male and 196,609 female voters to cast their votes from its five constituencies wherein total 47 candidates are vying.
Though the total number of political parties in AJK stands at 42, the major contest in different constituencies of Kotli and other districts as well as the constituencies reserved for refugees is expected among AJK’s top political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference.
Kotli is followed by AJK’s Capital Muzaffarabad in the voters list. Just about 429,276 voters, including 191,112 females ready to throw their votes from its six constituencies were in total 67 candidates are in the foot race.
Vote wise district Poonch is the third largest district of AJK with a total of 310,968 registered voters, which include 141,334 female voters. A total of 51 candidates from four constituencies of this district will be testing their fortune on the polling day.
The total number of registered electors in district Mirpur is 233,518, which includes 127,274 male and 106,244 female voters. Here a total of 48 contenders will be challenging each other from the four constituencies.
A sum of 45 contestants will be facing each other from district Bhimber’s three constituencies, which has 243,165 voters 133,727 male and 109,438 female voters.
From district Sudhnoti, which takes in two constituencies around 166,143 people, 91,283 men and 74,860 women will exercise their right to vote, whereas from District Bagh, which has three constituencies of its 232,572 voters 126,326 male and 106,246 female voters, an aggregate of 25 candidates is competing. District Neelam and district Havelli (Kahuta) have one constituency each of their 96,584 (52,479 male, 44,105 female) and 80,637 (43,813 male, 36,824 female) voters, respectively. From Neelam, eight candidates are competing, while the same number of nominees is also on the run from Havelli.
A sum of 99 contestants is contending for the 12 constituencies, spreading over four provinces of Pakistan, where 438,884 people, 254,817 men and 184,067 women will use their voting right.
