Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 20: Dr Shahnaz Ganai of National Conference coalition would face Ved Mahajan of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Rashpal Verma of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) among a total of seven candidates on Jammu-2 seat while Sham Lal Bhagat of the Congress would be locked in battle with Col (Retired) Uttam Singh of BJP and Gurmeet Singh of PDP in Jammu-1 seat as per the final list of candidates released by the Election Commission for four seats of Legislative Council today after last date of withdrawal of nomination papers ended last evening.
Fourteen candidates were in the fray now for J-I seat and seven for J-2 seat.
In Kashmir division, Ali Mohammad Dar of National Conference, who happened to be provincial president of the party, would face Peer Mohammad Hussain, a former Minister of PDP and Mohammad Iqbal Wani of National Panthers Party (NPP) among others for Kashmir-1 seat while Ghulam Nabi Monga of Congress is locked in contest with Yaseer Rishi of PDP, Mohammad Maqbool Malik of NPP and Ashraf Ali of BJP among others.
The BJP has not fielded any candidate for K-1 seat.
The Election Commission has allotted party symbols to candidates of recognized political parties including National Conference, Congress, PDP, BJP, NPP and BSP.
In J-1 seat, National Conference and Congress, which were contesting the election in alliance with each other, have fielded Sham Lal Bhagat of Congress, who would face, Colonel (Retired) Uttam Singh of BJP, Gurmeet Singh of PDP, Anita Thakur of NPP and Harjeet Kumar of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) besides Independent candidates.
In J-2 seat, Dr Shahnaz Ganai of NC, who is the Alliance candidate, would be facing Ved Mahajan of PDP, Rashpal Verma of BJP, Mohammad Rafiq Chandel of NPP and Ram Chand of BSP besides the Independent candidates.
Of total 21 candidates left in fray for Jammu division, 14 were contesting for J-1 seat and seven for J-2 seat.
Fazal Ahmad Wani, a Sarpanch from Chirala, Doda is the lone Independent candidates, who has been contesting on both J-1 and J-2 seats. He has been allotted common symbol for both seats, sources said.
A total of 33,540 Sarpanchs and Panchs comprised Electoral College for elections for four seats of the Legislative Council, which would be held on December 3. While 15,628 Sarpanchs and Panchs would vote for two candidates in Jammu division, 17,912 Panchayat members would press the buttons of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Kashmir division for an equal number of candidates.
Sources said each Sarpanch and Panch would be entitled to cast two votes one for J-1 and another for J-2 candidates. Similarly the Panchayat members of Kashmir division would cast two votes—one each for K-1 and K-2 candidates.
The candidates securing maximum votes in J-1, J-2, K-1 and K-2 would be declared elected to the Legislative Council from Panchayat quota. Counting of votes will be taken up on December 6.
The National Conference and Congress has fielded two candidates each—one each in Jammu and Kashmir divisions while PDP and NPP are the only political parties, which have fielded candidates on all four seats. BJP has fielded three candidates and BSP two.
A total of 44 candidates had filed nomination papers for four seats including 28 in Jammu division and 16 in Kashmir. Nomination papers of three candidates were rejected while four others had withdrawn in Jammu division leaving 37 candidates in fray including 21 in Jammu division.
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