Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 6: Twelve candidates including BJP rebel Chaman Lal Kanaithia today withdrew their nomination papers from fifth and final phase of elections in 20 Assembly segments of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts, leaving 213 candidates in the fray.
Kanaithia, who had revolted against the party and filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate from Chhamb Assembly seat, today withdrew from the race. BJP had given mandate to Dr Krishan Lal against Deputy Chief Minister and Congress leader Tara Chand. Kanaithia had narrowly lost to Tara Chand in 2008 elections.
However, two BJP rebels-Yog Raj alias Yogesh Sharma (Rajouri) and Master Lal Chand (sitting MLA from Bani) remained in the fray against official party candidates Choudhary Talib Hussain and Jeewan Lal respectively.
Today was last date for withdrawal of the nominations. Polling for fifth phase would be held on December 20.
Three candidates-Kanta Andotra (covering candidate for her husband Lal Singh, BJP), Brijeshwar Singh and Ashwani Kumar, both Independents withdrew their nomination papers in Basohli while Kuldeep Magotra, an Independent opted out of the race in Jammu West.
In Jammu East, Showkat Ali of BSP withdrew from the fray while Independent Neeraj Kumar withdrew his nominations in Gandhi Nagar. Independent Shah Mohammad withdrew his papers in Nagrota.
Two candidates withdrew their nominations in Rajouri and one each in Darhal and Kalakote.
A total of 258 candidates had filed papers for 20 seats. Thirty-three nominations were rejected during scrutiny on December 4.
After withdrawals, Bani Assembly seat has 11 candidates in fray including Pawan Dev Singh (JKNPP), Jewan Lal (BJP), Rajnish Sharma (INC), Ramzan Hussain (BSP), Ghulam Hyder Malik (NC), Mohammad Salim Lone (PDP), Pishori Lal (Ind) Deep Kumar (Ind), Lal Chand (Ind), Mohd Rafiq (Ind) and Madan Lal (Ind).
In Basohli Assembly constituency, 12 candidates remained in fray, who include Jagdish Raj Spolia (INC), Khadam Hussain (BSP), Davinder Singh (NC), Rangil Singh (PDP), Romesh Chander Gupta (JKNPP), Lal Singh (BJP), Parvez Ahmed Reza (Ind), Jagdish Chander (Ind), Charan Das (Ind), Darshan Kumar (Ind), Rajinder Singh (Ind) and Shams Deen (Ind).
In Kathua seat, 15 candidates are in fray. They include Balbir Singh (JKNPP), Jatinder Singh alias Babu Singh (INC), Rajiv Jasrotia (BJP), Subash Chander (PDP), Som Raj Majotra (BSP), Kishore Kumar (NC), Manoj Kumar(CPI), Kasturi Lal (BMP), Gurnam Singh (All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party), S. Jamit Singh (Ind), Charanjit Singh (Ind), Robin Ramkrishan alias Robin Sharma (Ind), Sudesh Kumar (Ind), Naresh Kumar Sharma (Ind) and Harish Chander Sharma (Independent).
In Billawar Assembly constituency, 8 candidates were left in fray. They include Jatinder Singh (PDP), Ravinder Singh (JKNPP), Sanjeev Khajuria (NC), Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma (INC), Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh (BJP), Naresh Kumar (BSP), Sham Lal Gupta (Ind) and Mahmood Hussain (Ind).
In Hiranagar (SC) Assembly seat, 8 candidates are in fray. They were Puran Chand (BSP), Jagdish Raj (JKNPP), Chandu Ram (NC), Suraj Parkash (PDP), Kuldeep Raj (BJP), Girdhari Lal Chalotra (INC), Bansi Lal Kandley (Ind) and Ravail Singh (Ind).
In Nagrota seat, 11 candidates are now in fray, who include, Ch. Hussain Ali Wafa (PDP), Devender Singh Rana (JKNC), Rakesh Wazir (BSP), Shiv Dev Singh (INC), Nand Kishore (BJP), Vilakshana Singh (JKNPP), Bansi Lal ( All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party), Riyaz Ahmed (J&K People’s Conference), Ab. Gani (Jammu State Morcha, progressive), Kamal Kumar (Ind) and Nazakat Ali Khatana (Ind).
In Gandhi Nagar Assembly seat, 11 candidates are in fray. They include Amrik Singh (PDP), Anita Kumari (JKNPP), Raman Bhalla (INC), Ravinder Singh Pappu (BSP), Surinder Singh Bunty (NC), Kavinder Gupta (BJP), Gourav Kapoor (NCP), Kanchan Sharma (Bhartiya Bahujan Party), Prabodh Chander Sharma (Ind), Kuldeep Singh (Ind) and Madhu Bala (Ind).
In Jammu East Assembly constituency, 9 candidates are in fray. They were Bimla Luthra (JKNC), Bharat Chowdhary (JKPDP), Rajesh Gupta (BJP), Rajesh Gondhi (JKNPP), Vikram Malhotra (INC), Ajay Jagotra (Ind), Sanjeev Gupta (Ind), Kasturi Lal Gupta (Ind) and Mahesh Chander Padha (Ind).
In Jammu West Assembly seat, 15 candidates were left in fray. They are Dharamveer Singh (JKNC), Rajinder Singh Bloria (NCP), Sat Paul Sharma (BJP), Sarv Daman Bhasin (PDP), Surinder Singh Shingari (INC), Mohinder Kumar (BSP), Neeraj Gupta (JKNPP), Uday Chand (Ind/Duggar Pradesh Party), Ghani Sham(Ind/Rashtriya Krantikari Samajwadi Party), Arun Kumar Sawhney (Ind), Dr. Anil Kumar Dhar (Ind), Sawatantar Bharat Bakshi (Ind), Sanjay Gupta (Ind), Kanwar Jeet (Ind) and Vijay Kumar Verma (Ind).
In Bishnah seat, 10 candidates are in fray, who include Ashwani Kumar Sharma (BJP), Bharat Bushan (BSP), Faqir Chand (PDP), Krishan Kumar Digra (NCP), Kamal Verma (NC), Gulchain Singh Charak (INC), Ganshyam Sharma (Panthers Party), Bimal Devi Mottan (Samajwadi Party), Vicky Kumar Dogra (Bahujan Mukti Party) and Rampal Khajuria (Ind).
In R S Pura (SC) Assembly constituency, 11 candidates are in fray, who include Ajaib Singh Motan (BSP), Bhushan Lal (PDP), Romesh Lal Mottan (NC), Suman Lata Bhagat (INC), Kesar Parveen (J&KNPP), Dr. Gagan Bhagat (BJP), Sham Lal (SP), B R Kundal (Ind), Pargat Singh (Ind), Devinder Singh (Ind) and Kuldeep Raj (Ind).
In Suchetgarh seat, 12 candidates are in fray. They include Ashok Kumar Randhawa (JKNPP), Tarlok Singh Bajwa (PDP), Taranjit Singh Tony (NC), Dev Raj (NCP), Rajinder Singh Chib (INC), Sham Lal Choudhry (BJP), Harjeet Kumar (BSP), Jeet Raj (Bahujan Mukti Party), Bachan Lal Choudhary (Ind), Bhupinder Singh(Retd SSP) (Ind), Rajinder Singh Toofani (Ind) and Ranjit Singh (Ind).
In Marh seat, 9 candidates are in fray. They include Ajay Kumar Sadhotra (NC), Ashok Kumar (BSP), Balwan Singh (INC), Sukhnandan Kumar (BJP), Sandeep Singh (NCP), Suram Singh (PDP), Shanker Singh (JKNPP), Vijay Kumar (All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party/Ind) and Darshan Lal (Ind).
In Raipur Domana (SC) Assembly seat, 11 candidates remained in fray. They are Bali Bhagat (BJP), Bihari Lal Digra(BSP), Chaman Lal (PDP), Sat Paul (NC), Mula Ram (INC), Nirmal Kishore (JKNPP), Surjeet Kumar (Bharatiya Bahujan Party), Harbans Lal Bhagat (Aam Admi Party), Anil Kumar (Ind), Raj Kumar ( Ind) and Naresh Salgotra (Ind).
In Akhnoor, 8 candidates were left in fray, who include Pushvinder Singh (JKNPP), Dev Raj (PDP),Raj Kumar (BSP), Rajeev Sharma (BJP), Sham Lal Sharma (INC), Dr. Gafur Ahmed(JKNC), Pardeep Kumar (Independent) and Tej Ram (Independent).
In Chhamb (SC) Assembly constituency, 10 candidates in fray. They include Bhajan Lal (NCP), Tara Chand (INC), Janak Raj (JKNPP), Shakti Bala (NC), Dr. Krishan Lal (BJP), Madan Lal (PDP), Manoj Kumar (BSP), Subash Chander (All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party), Biru Mal (Ind) and Mohinder Lal (Ind).
In Nowshera seat, 11 candidates are in fray, who include, Haq Nawaz (BSP), Radhey Sham Sharma (NC), Ravinder Raina (BJP), Ravinder Kumar Sharma (INC), Surinder Choudhary (PDP), Yash Paul (JKNPP), Vijay Kumar Bali (HJP), Ashwani Kumar Sharma (Ind), Pankaj Kumar Raina (Ind), Rajinder Kumar (Ind) and Surinder Kumar Choudhary (Ind).
In Darhal seat, 11 candidates were left in fray. They are Thakur Puran Singh (BJP), Ch. Zulfkar Ali (JKPDP), Ch. Liaqat Ali (JKNC), Sheraz Begum (BSP), Mohd Iqbal Malik (INC), Mohd Rakiz (JKNPP), Rafaqat Ajaz Choudary (Hindustan Kranti Kari Dal), Abdul Manaf (Ind), Ghulam Header Atish (Ind), Manir Hussain (Ind) and Nazir Hussain (Ind)
In Rajouri Assembly seat, 13 candidates remained in fray, who include Chowdhary Talib Hussain (BJP), Shabir Ahmed Khan (INC), Sharafat Ali (BSP), Ghulam Mustafa (JKNPP), Qamar Hussain (PDP), Mirza Abdul Rashid (NC), Istkhar Ali Ahmed (Ind), Zaheer Ahmed (Ind), Ghulam Rasool (Ind), Ghulam Mustafa (Ind), Layqit Ali (Ind), Mohammad Farooq (Ind) and Yog Raj (Ind).
In Kalakote seat, 7 candidates are in fray, who include, Asad Bari Shah (PDP), Ashok Kumar Sharma (INC), Rachpaul Singh (JKNC), Abdul Ghani Kohli (BJP), Mohd Rafiq (BSP), Ashok Kumar (Ind) and Mahesh Kumar Sharma (Ind).
Follow our WhatsApp channel