Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: Three candidates including Devender Rana (National Conference), Rani Blowria (Congress) and Yashpal Sharma (PDP) were today elected unopposed to Legislative Council from three seats of Jammu division on last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.
With uncontested election for three seats of Jammu division, election would be held for five seats of the Upper House (four of Kashmir division and one seat reserved for Doda district) on March 7.
This is second term of Mr Rana in the Upper House and first of two others. Mr Rana has served as Political Advisor to CM, M S Blowria as Deputy Mayor of JMC and Mr Sharma as president of Poonch Municipality.
Assembly Secretary, Mohammad Ramzan, who is Returning Officer for the election, declared three candidates elected to the Legislative Council this afternoon after time for withdrawal of nomination papers expired.
“As only three candidates were in fray for an equal number of seats of Jammu division, they were declared elected as unopposed’’, Mr Ramzan said.
He said five candidates in fray for four seats of Kashmir division included Muzaffar Parray (Congress), Abdul Majeed Bhat Larnoo and Showkat Hussain Ganai (both National Conference), Nayeem Akhter Andrabi (PDP) and Shiban Krishen Dudha (Independent).
For Doda reserve seat, there would be direct contest between Naresh Gupta (Congress) and Mohammad Iqbal (NPP). Mr Gupta’s victory is certain going by the numbers the NC-Congress Alliance has in the Assembly.
After her election, Ms Blowria visited the Congress Headquarters, where she was given was welcome by the senior party leaders.