Srinagar: A total of 219 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections as 25 candidates withdrew their nomination papers on Friday, the last day of withdrawal, officials said.
A total of 280 nomination papers were filed for 24 assembly constituencies in seven districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Voting for these assembly seats is to be held on September 18. However, after scrutiny, nominations of 36 candidates were rejected. On Friday, 25 candidates withdrew their nominations, leaving 219 candidates in the fray. He said that out of these 25 candidates, five are from Kashmir division and 20 are from Jammu division.