5 withdraw nominations from Kashmir, 104 in fray
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 30: On the last date of the withdrawal of nomination papers for the first phase of the forthcoming Assembly Elections for 16 Assembly Constituencies of Kashmir, 5 candidates withdrew their Candidature in the office of respective Returning Officers today.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
At the website of the Election Commission of India (ECI) 5 candidates withdrew their nominations on the last date of withdrawal today, in Kashmir. They are all Independents with two from Dooru Assembly seat and one each from Devsar, Anantnag West and Tral seats.
With this, only 104 validly Nominated Candidates now remain in fray for the 16 Assembly Constituencies in Kashmir where polling will be held in the first phase on 18th September.
Three candidates withdrew their nomination papers in Anantnag district, one in Kulgam district, and one in Pulwama district, while no candidate withdrew nomination in Shopian district.
With this, 64 candidates remain in the final electoral fray in Anantnag district, followed by 45 in Pulwama district, 25 in Kulgam district and 21 in Shopian district.
In Pulwama district, 14 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 32-Pampore seat; 9 candidates in 33-Tral seat; 12 candidates in 34-Pulwama seat; and 10 candidates in 35-Rajpora seat.
In Shopian district, 10 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 36-Zainapora seat and 11 candidates will contest in 37-Shopian seat.
In Kulgam district, 6 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 38-DH Pora AC; 10 candidates in 39-Kulgam AC; and 9 candidates in 40-Devsar AC.
In Anantnag district, 10 candidates remain in the final electoral fray for election in 41-Dooru seat; 10 candidates in 42-Kokernag (ST) seat; 9 candidates in 43-Anantnag West seat; 13 candidates in 44-Anantnag seat; 3 candidates in 45-Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat; 13 candidates in 46-Shangus-Anantnag East seat; and 6 candidates in 47-Pahalgam seat.
The main contest in all these seats will mostly between National Conference-Congress alliance and Peoples Democratic Party. However, at a couple of places Apni Party will also give a tough fight.
In Pahalgam there is tri-angular contest among Apni Party candidate Rafi Mir, NC candidate Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and PDP candidate Dr Syed Shabir Siddique.
In Larnoo-Kokernag the contest is between NC candidate Zafar Chowdhry and PDP candidate Haroon Chowdery.
In Anantnag East, it is between PDP candidate Abdul Rehman Veeri and NC candidate Reyaz Ahmad Khan.
In Anantnag West, PDP candidate Abdul Gaffar Sofi is pitted against NC’s Abdul Majid Larmi and BJP candidate Mohmmad Rafiq Wani who has personal rapport will also give a fight.
In Anantnag main constituency there is a four cornered contest among Congress candidate and former PCC president Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, PDP candidate Dr Mehboob Beg, Apni Party candidate Hilal Shah and an independent candidate Peer Mansoor.
In Bijbehara, it is direct contest between PDP candidate Ijtija Mufti and NC candidate Dr Bashir Veeri
In Dooru, the former PCC Chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir is pitted against PDP candidate Retired Sessions Judge Mohammad Ashraf Malik.
In Shopian assembly seat of Shopian district, the contest is between Yawar Banday of PDP and Sheikh Rafi of NC but Shabir Kullay who deserted NC and is contesting as an Independent candidate is also a strong candidate.
In Zainapora constituency in Shopian district, Showkat Ganie of NC is pitted against Ghulam Mohiudin Wani of PDP while Aijaz Mir former PDP legislator who deserted the party is also a strong candidate.
In Pulwama constituency, of Pulwama district the contest is between PDP’s youth leader Waheed Para and NC candidate Mohammad Khalil Bandh.
In Rajpora constituency it is between PDP’s Syed Bashir Ahmad and NC candidate Ghulam Mohdin Mir.
In Tral the main contest is between PDP candidate Rafiq Ahmad Naik and Congress candidate Surinder Singh Chenni while an independent candidate Dr Harbaksh Singh is also a strong contender.
In Pampore, it is fight between NC candidate and former MP Hasnain Masoodi and former PDP legislator Zahoor Ahmad Mir.
In Kulgam constituency, it is a triangular contest among CPI (M) candidate MY Tarigami, Peoples Conference candidate and former MP Nazir Ahmad Lawvey and PDP.
In DH Pora, it is fight among NC candidate Sakeena Itoo, Apni Party Abdul Majid Paddar and PDP candidate
In Devsar, it is a triangular contest among PDP candidate Sartaj Madni, Democratic Progressive Azad Party leader Mohammad Amin Bhat and Feroz Ahmad Shah of NC.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
