Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 13: Four former Ministers and three sitting legislators were among 31 candidates, who joined the battle of ballots on penultimate day of filing of nomination papers for 9 Assembly constituencies, which will go to elections in Phase-II on December 2 in Jammu region even as the Election Commission today called for well knit strategy to hold free and fair elections in the State by ensuring fool proof security during the polls.
With this, a total of 122 candidates have so far jumped into the election fray for 18 seats of J&K for second phase of polling, the nominations for which will close tomorrow, official sources told the Excelsior.
Meanwhile, Election Commission today set the process into motion for third phase of polling for 16 seats of three districts in the Kashmir Valley, which will go to elections on December 9. Beginning today, the candidates can file nomination papers for these seats till November 21 while scrutiny of documents will be held the next day. The candidates can withdraw their nominations till November 24.
The Assembly seats of Baramulla, Badgam and Pulwama districts will go to polls in Phase-3. The seats are Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg, Pattan, Chadoora, Badgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-i-Sharief, Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora.
In three districts having nine Assembly segments—three each in one district of Jammu region—15 candidates today filed their papers in Poonch district and eight each in Reasi and Udhampur districts.
Two former Ministers—Jugal Kishore Sharma (Congress) and Babu Jagjivan Lal (National Conference) today joined the electoral battle for Reasi Assembly seat for fourth time in a row since 1996 having won the election once each. They will be facing Ajay Nanda (BJP), Saraf Singh (PDP backed Independent) and sitting MLA Baldev Sharma (BJP rebel) among others in December 2 election. All three have already joined the fray.
Both candidates took out impressive rallies before filing their nomination papers before the Returning Officer. Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad accompanied Kishore in filing his papers and later addressed a rally in his support.
Jugal Kishore had contested Reasi seat as independent candidate in 1996 but lost. He won the seat in 2002 and was made Cabinet Minister. He again lost the seat in 2008. Jagjivan Lal had won the seat in 1996 but lost it in two successive elections of 2002 and 2008.
Thakur Karan Singh (BSP) and Om Prakash (CPM) also filed papers for Reasi constituency today.
Sardar Pradeep Singh (BJP joined the fray today from Gulabgarh seat of Reasi while Imtiyaz Khan (PDP), Shakeel Ahmad (NPP) and Shamsher Singh (covering candidate for BJP) filed papers for Gool-Arnas seat.
Another former Minister and sitting MLA from Ramnagar, Harshdev Singh, who has not lost any election so far since he contested his first poll in 1996, today filed his nomination papers seeking fourth term from the constituency. Harshdev has already made hat-trick of victories in 1996, 2002 and 2008 and will be in race for fourth term as JKNPP candidate. Singh was taken in an impressive rally to the office of the Returning Officer by his supporters.
Among others, Harshdev Singh will be facing RS Pathania (BJP), Vinod Khajuria (Congress) and Sukham Chand (BSP). Both Khajuria and Chand also filed their papers in Ramnagar today. In addition, Vikrant Sharma (covering candidate for Congress) and Ram Pyari (covering candidate for BSP) also filed their papers today for Ramnagar seat.
While no nomination was today filed for Udhampur seat, three leaders joined contest in Chenani (Reserve) constituency including Pushpa Dogra (Samajwadi Party), Sansar Chand (NC) and Hans Raj Kalotra (PDP).
Choudhary Mohammad Akram son of former Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Choudhary Aslam, who had died recently today filed his nomination papers as Congress candidate for Surankote Assembly seat in Poonch district. Aslam had won the seat in 2008.
Former Minister and NC leader Mushtaq Bukhari, who had won Surankote seat in 2002 and PDP candidate Iqbal Hussain Shah also filed their papers for Surankote seat today. Ashfaq Rana (NPP), Javed Ahmad (All India Forward Bloc) and Mohammad Ajaz Khan (covering candidate for BJP) too filed their papers this afternoon for Surankote seat.
Choudhary Akram, Bukhari and Iqbal took out impressive rallies in Surankote before filing their nomination papers. The contest was expected to be among them though several other candidates were also in the fray and more could join the battle of ballots tomorrow.
In Poonch Assembly segment, sitting MLA Aijaz Jan (National Conference) and prominent political leader Choudhary Abdul Gani (Independent) filed nomination papers today. Both of them marched in impressive procession in Poonch town before reaching office of the Returning Officer.
Other candidates, who filed papers today for Poonch seat, included Mohammad Younus (Pir Panjal Party) and Aamir Hussain (Independent).
Five candidates filed papers for Mendhar seat. They were Murtaza Khan, former PDP MLC as Congress candidate, Zulfikar Hussain (BJP), Mohammad Sharief Khan and Abdul Majeed (both Independents) and Nissar Hussain Shah (All India Forward Bloc).
Meanwhile, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi, who was on 2-day visit to Jammu to oversee the arrangements for the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State, held marathon meetings with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Umang Narula, District Election Officers (DEOs), heads of security agencies and General Observers here today.
Zutshi called for a well-knit strategy to hold free and fair elections across the State. He directed the concerned DEOs, SSPs and Observers to work with close coordination for achieving the desired results on ground. He stressed the need for putting in place all necessary arrangements related to the elections well in time. He issued specific instructions to the DEOs for distribution of photo identity polling slips to the voters, especially those who have lost their documents due to floods at-least one week before the polling dates.
Laying stress on ensuring the fool-proof security scenario during the election process, the Deputy EC called for deployment of adequate forces to restore the confidence of people, especially in the sensitive and vulnerable areas. He also discussed the transportation of polling staff, EVMs and other election material in the most difficult and inaccessible areas and asked for utilizing the services of helicopters as per the requirements.
Replying to the issues relating to the Model Code of Conduct, Zutshi said that Commission’s directives should be implemented in letter and spirit. On the issue of relief and rehabilitation to the displaced persons due to recent floods in the State, he said that the Commission has already given certain relaxations on the issue. He asked the DEOs and SSPs for regular media interactions on day-to-day election activities and arrangements for the smooth conduct of elections in their respective jurisdictions.
The Deputy ECI expressed satisfaction on the preparedness in all the areas which are going to polls in first and second phases and asked the concerned to plug the gaps, if any, well before the notified dates.
The DEOs, SSPs of the districts which are going to polls in first and second phases and General Observers were present in the meeting, chaired by Zutshi.
Earlier, Zutshi along with Narula held separate meeting with ADGP (Nodal Officer for Elections), IGPs of CRPF, Kashmir, Jammu, IGPs of J&K Police of Kashmir and Jammu and took detailed brief on the security arrangements for the smooth conduct of elections across the State.
Meanwhile, 40 candidates have so far filed their nomination papers from nine constituencies of Kulgam and Kupwara district which are going to polls in the second phase of elections next month.
Sartaj Madni of People’s Democratic Party filed his nomination papers from Devsar constituency of Kulgam. He is seeking re-election from this constituency. Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of BJP also filed his nominations from this constituency.
Senior National Conference leader, Sakina Itoo, who is seeking re-election from Noorabad filed her nomination papers today. Abdul Majid Paddar who contested 2008 elections on Congress ticket and later joined PDP also filed his papers today.
Abdul Gaffar Sofi of PDP who is seeking re-election from Home Shali Bugh filed his nominations papers today. Abdul Majid Larmi of NC also filed his papers from Home Shali Bugh.
Nazir Ahmad Lawvey of PDP, Imran Nabi Dar of NC, Towseef Ahmad Shah an Independent candidate filed his nomination papers from Kulgam today. The constituency is represented by CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami who filed his papers yesterday.
As many as 20 candidates filed their nominations from 5 constituencies of Kupwara district today taking the total number of nominations to 27 so far.
Choudhary Ramzan of NC who is seeking re-election from Handwara filed his nomination papers. Sajjad Lone, former separatist and chairman of the People’s Conference also filed papers from Handwara today.
Mir Saiffullah of NC who is seeking re-election from Kupwara filed his papers today. Mir Fayaz of PDP also filed his papers from Kupwara today.
Abdul Haq Khan of PDP who is seeking re-election from Lolab filed his papers today. Qaisar Jamshed Lone of NC also filed his papers from Lolab today.
Engineer Sheikh Abdul Rashid of Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) who is seeking re-election from Langate filed his papers today.
Professor Bhim Singh the senior most leader of the National Panthers Party (NPP) was also accompanying his candidates filed nominations from Karnah, Lolab and Kupwara constituencies.
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