Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 3: Eighty eight candidates including sitting Ministers, former Ministers and MP, legislators and two BJP rebels were among 88 candidates, who filed their nomination papers for 20 Assembly seats of Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts on last day of filing of papers for fifth and final phase of polling in the State on December 20.
With this, total number of candidates for three districts has gone up to all time high at 258. Scrutiny of documents will take place tomorrow while candidates can withdraw their nomination papers will December 6 afternoon.
Of 88 candidates, who filed their nomination papers today, Jammu district topped with 47 followed by Rajouri with 23 and Kathua 18, official sources told the Excelsior.
A total of 122 candidates have joined the fray for 11 Assembly segments of Jammu district, 76 for five seats of Kathua district and 60 for four constituencies of Rajouri district.
Deputy Commissioner Rajouri, Jitendra Singh said highest number of 18 candidates have joined the fray on Rajouri seat, 17 in Nowshera, 14 in Darhal and 11 in Kalakote.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said 24 candidates were in fray for Kathua seat, 16 in Basohli, 14 in Hiranagar, 12 in Bani and 10 in Billawar.
In Jammu district, 122 candidates have filed nomination papers. Highest number of 17 candidates have filed papers for Jammu West seat.
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, Planning and Development Minister Ajay Sadhotra, Cooperatives Minister Dr Manohar Lal Sharma, National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana, former Lok Sabha member Choudhary Talib Hussain, BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma, PDP MLA Zulfikar Choudhary and two BJP rebels Yogesh Sharma (Rajouri) and Chaman Lal Kanaithia (Chhamb) were among the prominent faced, who joined the electoral battle for final phase of polling on final day by taking out huge rallies in their areas throwing vehicular movement out of gear at many places.
Several new faces including Rajeev Sharma (BJP-Akhnoor), Surinder Singh Bunty (NC-Gandhi Nagar), Bharat Choudhary (PDP-Jammu East) and Dharamveer Singh Jamwal (NC-Jammu West) also joined the battle of ballots today.
After facing rebellion in Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban and Bani Assembly segments, the BJP was in for fresh trouble in two seats of Chhamb and Rajouri, where party rebels Chaman Lal Kanaithia and Yogesh Sharma filed their nomination papers against the official candidates after being denied the party mandate.
Kanaithia, who had lost Chhamb seat by narrow margin to Tara Chand in 2008 elections, was replaced by the BJP with Dr Krishan Lal while in Rajouri, the BJP has given mandate to former National Conference leader Choudhary Talib Hussain. Yogesh Sharma, who joined the fray as BJP rebel from Rajouri today, had contested 2002 election on the party mandate. Sitting BJP MLA Master Lal Chand has already filed papers as Independent candidate from Bani after he was not given the party mandate,
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand today filed nomination papers from Chhamb (Reserve) seat in Jammu district seeking fourth consecutive term. He had won the seat in previous three elections in 1996, 2002 and 2008. Other candidates, who filed their papers from Chhamb seat today were Manoj Kumar (BSP), Bishan Lal (covering candidate PDP), Sakinder Lal (covering candidate NPP) and Biru Mal (covering candidate for Congress).
National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana filed his papers today from prestigious Nagrota Assembly seat, where Nand Kishore Sharma (BJP), brother of state BJP chief and MP Jugal Kishore, Shivdev Singh (Congress), Rakesh Wazir (BSP) and Choudhary Hussain Ali Wafa (PDP) have already joined the fray.
Other candidates, who filed their papers from Nagrota today, included Kamal Kishore Sharma, Choudhary Nazakat Khatana and Choudhary Shah Mohammad (all Independents) and Abdul Gani (JSM).
In another prestigious Assembly segment of Jammu East, nominated MLA Bimla Luthra (NC) and Bharat Choudhary (PDP) today filed their nomination papers. Other candidates, who joined the fray from Jammu East today, were Ajay Jagotra and Mukesh Chander Padha (Independent), Choudhary Showkat Gujjar (BSP) and Rajesh Gondhi (NPP). Among others, three young turks-Rajesh Gupta (BJP), Vikram Malhotra (Congress) and Bharat Choudhary (PDP) will be fighting it out in the East constituency, presently held by BJP Legislature party leader Ashok Khajuria, who has been denied mandate by the party.
Another prominent National Conference face Dharamveer Singh Jamwal today joined the electoral battle from Jammu West seat, where he will be facing Sat Sharma CA (BJP) and Surinder Singh Shingari (Congress) among others. Other candidates, who filed their papers today from Jammu West, were, Neeraj Gupta (NPP), Rajinder Singh (NCP), Arun Kumar Saini, Kanwaljeet, Vijay Kumar and Satwinter Bharat Bakshi (all Independents).
Seeking third consecutive term from Bishnah, BJP leader Ashwani Sharma today filed his papers from the constituency. His Congress rival Gulchain Singh Charak and NC candidate Dr Kamal Arora also filed nominations today. NPP candidate Ganisham Sharma also joined the fray from Bishnah today. Faquir Chand Bhagat (PDP) has already filed his papers from the seat. Ashwani had won the seat as JSM candidates in 2002 and 2008 but had recently joined the BJP.
Planning and Development Minister and NC leader Ajay Sadhotra joined the fray from Marh Assembly constituency today. Sadhotra, a sitting MLC, had won Marh seat in 1996 and 2002 but lost it to BJP’s Sukhnandan Choudhary in 2008. Sukhnandan, Balwan Singh (Congress) and Suram Singh (PDP) have already joined the fray from Marh constituency. Shanker Singh (JKNPP) filed his papers today.
In Rajouri segment, former Minister and Lok Sabha member, Choudhary Talib Hussain today filed nomination papers as the BJP candidate. He had recently joined the BJP. He was elected Lok Sabha member in 2000 by-election as NC candidate from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat. However, his candidature drew revolt with senior party leader from Rajouri, Yogesh Sharma today filing his papers as an Independent candidate.
Other candidates, who filed their papers today for Rajouri seat, were Ghulam Rasool, Maqsood Dar, Nazir Ahmad, Mohammad Ishtaq and Zahir Charak (all Independents), Ghulam Mustafa Wani (NPP) and Rajinder Gupta (covering candidate for BJP).
Cooperatives Minister and Congress leader Dr Manohar Lal Sharma today filed papers from Billawar constituency seeking third term. He had won Billawar seat in 2002 as an Independent candidate but later joined the Congress and retained the seat in 2008. He is facing BJP strongman Dr Nirmal Singh among others. Mohinder Singh (NCP) and Mulkh Raj (Independent) also filed their papers today for Billawar seat.
NC young turk Surinder Singh Bunty today joined the fray from prestigious Gandhi Nagar seat. Others, who filed papers from Gandhi Nagar today, included Kuldeep Singh (United Democratic Party), Kanchan Sharma (BSP), Anita Thakur (JKNPP) and Pramajeet Singh (covering candidate for JKNPP). Housing Minister Raman Bhalla (Congress), Kavinder Gupta, a three timer Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) and Amreek Singh Reen (PDP) have already filed their papers from Gandhi Nagar seat.
Sitting PDP MLA Choudhary Zulfikar Ali joined the electoral fray from Darhal Assembly segment today seeking second term. He had wrested the seat from NC in 2008. He is facing among others Choudhary Liaqat (NC), Mohammad Iqbal Malik (Congress) and Thakur Puran Singh, former Minister, who had won Darhal seat in 2002 (BJP). Liaqat and Malik filed their papers today. Others, who joined the fray in Darhal today, included Rafaqat Ajaz (Hindustan Kranti Akali Dal), Manzoor Hussain Shah (covering candidate for PDP), Mohammad Manaf Malik and Ghulam Hyder Atish (both Independents).
PDP leader Surinder Kumar Choudhary and three Independent candidates Pankaj Kumar, Surinder Choudhary and Ashwani Kumar filed their nomination papers from Nowshera seat today. Among others, the PDP candidate will be facing sitting NC MLA Radhey Shyam Sharma, Ravinder Raina (BJP) and Ravinder Sharma (Congress).
BJP fresh face Rajeev Sharma joined the electoral battle from Akhnoor seat today. NC leader Dr Gafoor Ahmad also filed the papers today. They will be facing among others PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Sham Lal Sharma. Pushvinder Kumar (NPP), Tej Ram (Independent) and Ajay Kumar (covering candidate for BSP) filed their papers from Akhnoor today.
Mohammad Rafiq (BSP), Mohammad Akmal (NPP), Ashok Kumar Sharma and Mahesh Kumar Sharma (both Independent candidates) today joined the fray from Kalakote seat. Sitting NC MLA Rashpal Singh is seeking third term from Kalakote and was facing among others Abdul Gani Kohli (BJP) and Ashok Sharma (Congress).
Rajnish Sharma alias Mian son of Congress veteran leader Mangat Ram Sharma today filed papers from Bani seat of Kathua district as Congress candidate. Mangat’s another son Subash Sharma is contesting election from Kathua seat as PDP nominee. Mangat has also joined the PDP. Deep Kumar and Madan Lal (both Independents) today joined the fray from Bani.
Mian among others would face Jeewan Lal (BJP), sitting BJP MLA Master Lal Chand (Independent), and Ghulam Hyder Malik, former Deputy Speaker (NC).
Two Independent candidates Jagdish Chand and Ashwani Kumar today joined the fray from Basohli seat where BJP’s Lal Singh and Congress candidate Jagdish Sapolia, who is sitting MLA were locked in the battle along with NC, PDP and other candidates.
In Kathua constituency, KK Bakshi (NC), Harish Chander alias Chingari, Dewan Chand and Rajesh Kumar (all Independents) filed their nomination papers today. Charanjit Singh Jasrotia (sitting MLA), Rajeev Jasrotia (BJP), Jitender Singh alias Babu Singh, former Minister (Congress) and Subash Sharma (PDP) have already filed their papers from Kathua among others.
Six nomination papers were today filed for Hiranagar constituency of Kathua district. The candidates included Kuldeep Raj (BJP), Jagdish Raj (JKNPP), Balbir Singh, Ravail Singh, Prem Nath Hand and Dheer Chand (all Independents). Congress candidate Girdhari Lal Chalotra has already filed his papers from Hiranagar seat. BJP has replaced its sitting MLA Durga Dass from Hiranagar with Kuldeep Raj.
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