Jammu, Sep 9 (Reporter) As many as 239 candidates are in fray as 27 candidates withdrew their nominations on the last day of the withdrawal of nomination papers for the second phase of the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections in the 26 Assembly Constituencies in the offices of respective returning officers across six districts on Monday. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K UT, informed that out of the total 266 valid nominations, 27 candidates withdrew their nominations by the last date of withdrawal, i.e., Monday, 09 September 2024. With this, only 239 validly Nominated Candidates now remain in fray for the 26 Assembly Constituencies where polling will be held in the second phase of the J&K Assembly Elections on 25 September 2024. The highest nine candidates withdrew their nomination in Budgam district, followed by six in Srinagar district, five each in Rajouri and Poonch districts, and two in Reasi district, while no candidate withdrew their nomination in Ganderbal district. With this, 93 candidates remain in the final electoral fray in Srinagar district, followed by 46 in Budgam district, 34 in Rajouri district, 25 in Poonch district, and 21 in Ganderbal district, while 20 candidates remain in the final fray in Reasi district. In Reasi district, six candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 56-Gulabgarh (ST) AC; seven candidates in 57-Reasi AC; while seven candidates remain in the fray in 58-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi AC. In Rajouri district, 11 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 83-Kalakote-Sunderbani AC; five candidates in 84-Nowshera AC; eight candidates in 85-Rajouri (ST) AC; five candidates in 86-Budhal (ST) AC; while six candidates remain in the fray in 87-Thannamandi (ST) AC. In Poonch district, eight candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 88-Surankote (ST) AC; eight candidates in 89-Poonch Haveli AC; while nine candidates remain in the fray in 90-Mendhar (ST) AC. Similarly, in Ganderbal district, six candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 17 Kangan (ST) AC and 15 candidates in 18 Ganderbal AC. In Srinagar district, 13 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 19-Hazratbal AC; 10 candidates in 20-Khanyar AC; 16 candidates in 21-Habbakadal AC; 10 candidates in 22-Lal Chowk AC; 8 candidates in 23-Channapora AC; 10 candidates in 24-Zadibal AC; 13 candidates in 25-Eidgah AC; while 13 candidates remain in the fray in 26-Central Shalteng AC. Finally, in Budgam district, 8 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 27-Budgam AC; 12 candidates in 28-Beerwah AC; 10 candidates in 29-Khansahib AC; 10 candidates in 30-Chrar-I-Sharief AC; while 6 candidates remain in the fray in 31-Chadoora AC. It is worth mentioning here that a total of 309 candidates had filed their nomination papers before the respective Returning Officers in 26 Assembly Constituencies till the last date of filing the nominations on 5 September 2024. Out of these, the nomination papers of 266 candidates were found valid during the scrutiny held on 6 September 2024. And now, with the withdrawal of 27 candidates, 239 candidates remain in the final electoral fray...////...