Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Seven candidates including three from National Conference and two each of Congress and PDP were likely to be elected unopposed to the Legislative Council on February 21, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers while there would be one-sided contest on Doda reserve seat between Congress candidate Naresh Gupta and NPP nominee Mohammad Iqbal with victory of Mr Gupta being a foregone conclusion.
Though a total of 12 candidates filed their nomination papers for eight seats today, the last date of filing papers, the documents of three candidates including Congress leader Mohammad Amin Bhat, who was among eight MLCs retiring on March 16, were likely to be rejected as they were not signed by mandatory 10 sponsors (MLAs).
The Congress faced a virtual revolt on the candidature of Muzaffar Parray, senior vice president of the party, on Kashmir seat with Amin Bhat also filing his papers while Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, who had contested 2008 Assembly election from Ganderbal Assembly segment against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, resigning from the party.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a total of 12 candidates filed nomination papers for eight seats today.
They included Devender Singh Rana (National Conference), Rani Bloeria (Congress), Yashpal Sharma (PDP) and Sardar Kalu Khan Hamdard (Independent), all from three seats of Jammu division, Muzaffar Parray (Congress), Abdul Majeed Bhat Larnoo and Showkat Hussain Ganai (both National Conference), Nayeem Akhter (PDP), Mohammad Amin Bhat and Shuban Krishen Dudha (both Independents), all from Kashmir division’s four seats, Naresh Gupta (Congress) and Mohammad Iqbal (NPP), both from Doda reserve seat.
Though the election of eight candidates, three each from National Conference and Congress, both coalition partners and two from main Opposition, the PDP, was a foregone conclusion, the NPP has blocked uncontested election on Doda reserve seat by fielding its candidate while seven candidates, four on Kashmir division seats and three on Jammu division, would be elected uncontested as the nomination papers of Independent candidates against them would be rejected as they were without the support of 10 sponsoring MLAs.
Worthwhile to mention here that the recognized political parties can field their candidates by giving them mandate while Independent candidates had to secure support of at least 10 MLAs to jump into the fray.
The documents of all 12 candidates in the fray would be scrutinized tomorrow in the office of Returning Officer for Legislative Council elections, Mohammad Ramzan, Secretary Legislative Assembly. During scrutiny, nomination papers of three candidates including sitting MLC and Congress leader Mohammad Amin Bhat, who is retiring on March 16, Shuban Krishen Dudha, both on Kashmir seats and Sardar Kalu Khan Hamdard on Jammu division seat were likely to be rejected as neither they have authority letter of any recognized political party nor 10 sponsors for their candidature.
Sources said the likely rejection of three nomination papers of Independent candidates would lead to election of seven leaders to Legislative Council uncontested. The candidates are declared elected on last date of withdrawal of nomination papers, which is February 21.
The candidates, who were set to be elected uncontested, included Devender Singh Rana (NC), Rani Bloeria (Congress) and Yashpal Sharma (PDP), all from three seats of Jammu division, Muzaffar Parray (Congress), Abdul Majeed Bhat Larnoo and Showkat Hussain Ganai (both NC) and Nayeem Akhter (PDP), all from four seats of Kashmir division.
However, Congress candidate Naresh Gupta, who is seeking second term to the Upper House from Doda reserve seat, would have to wait for the election till March 7 as NPP has fielded its candidate Mohammad Iqbal against him. The NPP candidate would muster at least 24 votes (three of NPP and 21 from PDP) while Mr Gupta, the joint candidate of NC-Congress Alliance would romp home with a handsome margin as the two parties have support of nearly 55 MLAs in the Assembly.
Unless the NPP withdrew its candidate from Doda reserve seat, for which there was a remote possibility, a contest for the seat would be held on March 7 and counting taken up the same day with result declared in the evening.
Eight MLCs, who are retiring on March 16, included Devender Singh Rana, former Political Advisor to Chief Minister and provincial president of National Conference, his party colleague Mohammad Yusuf Taing, RS Chib, former Medical Education Minister, Mohammad Amin Bhat, Ali Mohammad Bhat and Naresh Gupta (all from Congress), Nizam-ud-Din Khatana and Murtaza Khan (both from PDP).
Only Mr Rana and Mr Gupta have been given a second term by their respective parties while six other retiring MLCs have been denied a fresh mandate.
With the retirement of Mohammad Yusuf Taing of NC, the post of Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council would also fall vacant. Under National Conference-Congress pact, the post would go to the NC as Council Chairman Amrit Malhotra belonged to the Congress.
Meanwhile, Congress today faced a virtual revolt with one of its senior leader and sitting MLC Mohammad Amin Bhat also filing his nomination papers after being denied re-nomination. Congress has fielded Muzaffar Parray on Kashmir seat. However, the Congress leaders were confidant that Mr Bhat would withdraw his nomination papers tomorrow himself before the Returning Officer rejected them.
Meanwhile, another Congress leader Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, who was also an aspirant for Congress mandate from Kashmir division, resigned from the party this evening after he was denied the ticket.
Mr Jabbar said top Congress leaders in New Delhi had assured him the mandate but a senior leader changed it. Mr Jabbar said he was district president of Congress for Ganderbal and had contested 2008 Assembly election from Ganderbal against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and secured handsome votes.
Before filing nomination papers, all three NC candidates-Devender Singh Rana, Abdul Majeed Bhat Larnoo and Showkat Hussain Ganai were taken in a procession to Assembly Secretariat from the house of Mr Rana for filing nomination papers. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone, Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra and a number of other Ministers and legislators were present during filing of nomination papers by the NC candidates.
PCC (I) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma, Housing Minister Raman Bhalla and other prominent leaders of the party accompanied the Congress leaders while filing nomination papers.
Senior PDP and NPP leaders also joined their candidates in filing nomination papers.
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