Jammu, Aug 30 (Reporter) As many as 25 candidates on Friday withdrew their candidature in the office of respective returning officers across seven districts on the last date of the withdrawal of nomination papers in the 24 Assembly Constituencies for the first phase of the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K UT, informed that out of the total 244 valid nominations, 25 candidates withdrew their nominations on the last date of withdrawal on Friday. With this, only 219 validly nominated candidates now remain in the fray for the 24 Assembly constituencies where polling will be held in the first phase of the J&K Assembly Elections on September 18, 2024. It said that seven candidates withdrew their nomination in Doda district, followed by seven in Kishtwar district, six in Ramban district, three in Anantnag district, one each in Kulgam district and Pulwama district, while no candidate withdrew their nomination in Shopian district. With this, 64 candidates remained in the final electoral fray in Anantnag district, followed by 45 in Pulwama district, 27 in Doda district, 25 in Kulgam district, 22 in Kishtwar district, and 21 in Shopian district, while 15 candidates remain in the final fray in Ramban district. In Kishtwar district, 9 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 48-Inderwal AC; 7 candidates in 49-Kishtwar AC; while 6 candidates remained in the fray in 50-Padder-Nagseni AC. In Doda district, 10 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 51-Bhadarwah AC; 9 candidates in 52-Doda AC; and 8 candidates in 53-Doda West AC. In Ramban district, 8 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 54-Ramban AC; while 7 candidates will contest in 55-Banihal AC. Similarly, in Pulwama district, 14 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 32-Pampore AC; 9 candidates in 33-Tral AC; 12 candidates in 34-Pulwama AC; and 10 candidates in 35-Rajpora AC. In Shopian district, 10 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 36-Zainapora AC and 11 candidates will contest in 37-Shopian AC. In Kulgam district, 6 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 38-DH Pora AC; 10 candidates in 39-Kulgam AC; and 9 candidates in 40-Devsar AC. Finally, in Anantnag district, 10 candidates remained in the final electoral fray for election in 41-Dooru AC; 10 candidates in 42-Kokernag (ST) AC; 9 candidates in 43-Anantnag West AC; 13 candidates in 44-Anantnag AC; 3 candidates in 45-Srigufwara-Bijbehara AC; 13 candidates in 46-Shangus-Anantnag East AC; and 6 candidates in 47-Pahalgam AC. Notably, a total of 279 candidates had filed nomination papers before the respective Returning Officers in 24 Assembly constituencies till the last date of filing the Nominations on August 27. Out of these, the Nomination papers of 35 candidates were rejected during the scrutiny held on 28 August, 2024. And now, with the withdrawal of 25 candidates, 219 candidates now remain in the final electoral fray. It may also be mentioned that more than 23.27 lakh voters, including 5.66 lakh youths, are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise during the Phase-I of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election, scheduled to be held on 18 September 2024, of which 11.76 lakh are male voters and 11.51 lakh are female voters, along with 60 third gender electors...////...