Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Mar 27: All 14 nomination papers filed for Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency were found valid during scrutiny of documents today by the Returning Officer while nomination paper of People’s Conference covering candidate Abid Hussain Ansari was rejected on Srinagar seat, leaving 12 candidates in fray.
However, a clear picture will emerge on last date for withdrawal of nomination papers on March 29 for two Parliamentary seats of Udhampur and Srinagar, which will go to polls in second phase on April 18.
The scrutiny of nomination papers filed for the election of Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency was held here today by Returning Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Vikas Kundal, who joined today as the Deputy Commissioner replacing Rohit Khajuria.
Election Observers for the constituency, Kanti Lal, Uma Kant Umrao, ARO, Babu Ram and representatives of various candidates besides few candidates were present at the time of scrutiny of nomination papers.
Nominations of all 14 candidates were found valid.
Candidates included Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh (BJP), Vikramaditya Singh (Congress), Choudhary Lal Singh (Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan, Harshdev Singh (Nationalist Panthers Party), Tilak Raj Bhagat of Bahujan Samaj Party, Mohammad Ayub of Navrang Congress Party, Meenakshi of Shiv Sena and Bansi Lal, Prem Nath, Rakesh Mudgal, Shaber Ahmad, Garib Singh, Firdous Ahmed and Martand Singh, all Independents.
Martand Singh son of Vikramaditya Singh has filed nomination papers as covering candidate.
Candidates can withdraw nomination papers till 3 pm on March 29.
The polling will be held on April 18 from 7am to 6 pm.
Meanwhile, Returning Officer for Srinagar Parliamentary constituency, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, rejected one nomination paper leaving 12 contestants in fray in the constituency after scrutiny of nomination papers today.
The nomination paper of Abid Hussain Ansari of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference was rejected. The candidates left in the fray now include Dr Farooq Abdullah of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, Sheikh Khalid Jehangir of Bharatiya Janata Party, Nazir Ahmad Lone of Rashtriya Jankranti Party, Irfan Raza Ansari of J&K Peoples Conference, Abdul Rashid Ganie of J&K National Panthers Party, Abdul Khaliq Bhat of Shiv Sena, Aga Syed Mohsin of People’s Democratic Party, Nazir Ahmad Sofi of Manavadikar National Party, Showkat Hussain Khan of Janta Dal United, and Abdul Rashid Banday, Bilal Sultan and Sajad Ahmad Dar, all Independents.
The last date of withdrawal of candidature is March 29 up to 3 PM. The polling will be held on April 18.
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