6.3 lakh electorates, 1703 Polling Stns for 28 seats
*539 Sarpanchs, Panchs elected unopposed
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 18: Former Minister and kin of many prominent politicians including ex Members of Parliament, Ministers and legislators, retired bureaucrat and other bigwigs are among 85 candidates who are in the fray for eighth and final phase of voting on 15 seats of the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu region tomorrow.
The seats which will go to polling here tomorrow include Khour in Jammu district, Samba-A and Samba-B (Samba), Keerian Gandyal (Kathua), Ramnagar-I and Ramnagar-II (Udhampur), Trigam and Kishtwar (Kishtwar), Assar (Doda), Rajgarh (Ramban), Reasi (Reasi), Darhal and Sunderbani (Rajouri) and Mendhar-C and Mankote (Poonch).
Former Minister and prominent National Conference leader Jagjivan Lal is in the fray from Reasi (SC Reserve) seat, which he has also represented in the Legislative Assembly. He is facing stiff challenge from BJP’s Chaman Lal Bhagat and Apni Party’s Bodh Raj Meenia among others.
Former Member Parliament and Legislative Assembly Speaker Mirza Abdul Rashid’s son Parvez Mirza is the National Conference candidate from Darhal Territorial Constituency in Rajouri district. Retired Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Malik is the BJP candidate on the same seat.
Zeeshan Rana, son of former MLA and National Conference leader Javed Rana is contesting the DDC election from Mendhar-C in Poonch district as NC candidate and has the support of People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). He is facing Independents Ashfaq Choudhary and Ikhlaq Chouhan among others. In Mankote, Congress leader Zaffar Choudhary’s son Imran Choudhary is in the contest against Mohammad Azam Choudhary of National Conference and Mohammad Ashraf Choudhary (Independent) among others.
Former Member Parliament and Minister Choudhary Lal Singh’s wife Kanta Andotra, who is also ex MLA, is in the fray from Keerian Gandyal segment of Kathua district. Pitted against her is BJP’s Dr Shweta Singh besides other candidates. Kanta is contesting as candidate of Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan which has been floated by Lal Singh.
In Mendhar-C and Mankote, several polling stations fall along the Line of Control (LoC) within shelling and firing range of the Pakistan army including Sheep Office Balnoi, Middle School Nar Balnoi, Middle School Lower Balnoi, Middle School Nar Mankote, Middle School Taien, Middle School Patri and Narota.
SSP Poonch Ramesh Angral told the Excelsior that all arrangements have been made for tomorrow’s polling in Mendhar-C and Mankote constituencies of Poonch district and added that a Contingency Plan is in place for polling stations on the LoC. However, the LoC areas where polling is slated for tomorrow remained peaceful today.
Meanwhile, State Election Commissioner (SEC) KK Sharma told a press conference in Srinagar that a total of 28 DDC constituencies will go to polls including 13 from Kashmir division and 15 in Jammu division tomorrow for which 168 candidates are in the contest.
“For 13 DDC constituencies of Kashmir, there are 83 candidates in fray including 31 females. In Jammu division, there are 85 candidates in fray for the 15 DDC constituencies including 15 females,” Sharma said.
He added that 6.3 lakh voters including 3.27 lakh male and 3.03 lakh females are eligible for the voting tomorrow for whom a total of 1703 polling stations have been set up—1028 in Kashmir and 675 in Jammu.
The SEC further informed that out of 165 Sarpanch vacancies notified in the 8th phase, 43 have been elected unopposed and there will be contest in 84 constituencies for which 249 candidates including 52 females are in fray.
Similarly, Sharma said that out of the total 1457 Panch vacancies notified in this phase, 496 have been elected unopposed while 285 constituencies will go for elections with 596 candidates including 156 females in the race.
The SEC said that all the requisite arrangements for tomorrow’s last phase of elections are in place including manpower, election material and security.
Referring to the arrangements in place in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the SEC said adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure safety of all stakeholders including the voters coming to vote at the polling stations.
“Sanitizers, thermal scanners and face masks have been arranged at the polling stations to ensure that SOPs issued by the concerned authorities, including wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing are strictly followed at the polling stations”, he added.
Meanwhile, the SEC has ordered repoll in three polling booths of Mendhar including Hajama and Gallian in Mendhar-A, Sakhimaidan MS and Sakhimaidan GMS in Mendhar -B on December 21 frm 7 am to 2 pm.
It may be mentioned here that some candidates had alleged rigging in these booths and held protests in Mendhar a day before.
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