Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 12: Twenty three candidates today filed their nomination papers for Phase-II of polling for 18 seats of Jammu and Kashmir even as Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi today reviewed election preparedness in the State with Election Department officials and Observers. With today’s 23 nominations, a total of 51 candidates have joined fray for second phase of elections on December 2.
Official sources said six candidates today filed nomination papers for Udhampur and three each in Reasi and Poonch districts of Jammu region while CPM’s three times MLA Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami was among 11 candidates, who joined the fray for 9 constituencies of North and South Kashmir.
RS Pathania (BJP), Raj Kapoor (NC) and Mohammad Amin (covering candidate for NC) today filed nomination papers for Ramnagar Assembly constituency of Udhampur district while Sunil Verma (NC) and Ranjit Singh (BSP) joined the fray from Udhampur segment. Mohinder Kumar (BSP) filed his papers for Chenani (Reserve) seat.
BJP nominee Advocate Ajay Nanda filed nomination papers for Reasi seat, Haji Abdul Rehman (Independent) for Gool-Arnas seat and Shabir Ahmad (Indian Janata Party) for Gulabgarh seat in Reasi district.
In Poonch district, BJP candidate Pardeep Sharma joined fray for Poonch seat while Chaman Lal filed the papers as his covering candidate. PDP’s Mahroof Khan filed nomination for Mendhar constituency.
BJP candidates—Pathania, Nanda and Pradeep and PDP candidate Mahroof Khan took out impressive rallies in Ramnagar, Reasi and Poonch respectively before joining the battle of ballots.
Addressing the gathering at Ramnagar, BJP MP from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat and Minister of State in PMO and Incharge North-East, Dr Jitendra Singh said the time has come for better co-ordination and liaison between Centre and Jammu and Kashmir Government and this bridge can be made only by electing first ever BJP Government to the State and first BJP MLA from Ramnagar.
“Otherwise, there will be conflict of interests between Centre and State Government. If the State Government proposed something, the Centre can have different view but if both Governments are of the same party, they will have better co-ordination and liaison leading to fast development of the State,’’ he said.
Dr Singh said entire country has been witnessing rapid development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP ruled States have become model of governance. “We can reproduce similar models of governance in Jammu and Kashmir by voting BJP Government to power in the State,’’ he added.
Promising to give corruption free Government in Jammu and Kashmir with accountability, the Union Minister said the BJP would ensure fair and transparent utilization of funds. He said the BJP is the only party with checks and balances and multiple tier system with no space for family and coterie in the Governments.
Dr Singh said the BJP has tried to bring generational shift by fielding lots of new faces including youth, educated and Advocates. He added that though he was in New Delhi, the new MLAs will be his ambassadors in the constituency to maintain proper liaison with him.
Mr Pathania and other party leaders said they were proud of their MP, who has been given important responsibility by Narendra Modi.
Meanwhile, Deputy Election Commissioner Vinod Zutshi reached here this afternoon on two days visit of Jammu and Kashmir to review arrangements for the elections, the first phase of which would start on November 25.
Zutshi had detailed meeting with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Umang Narula and other senior officers and Election Observers and discussed arrangements—both security and others for five phase polling.
The Election Commission officials briefed Zutshi about election preparedness in the State especially hilly areas where polling material, security personnel and election staff is required to airlifted. Deployment of para-military forces and local police also came up for high level review in the meeting.
Zutshi interacted with the six District Election Officers (DEOs) of Kashmir Valley and one from Jammu division through video conferencing regarding the election preparedness in the first and second phases.
He received detailed brief on the steps taken for the smooth conduct of elections from the DEOs of Leh, Kargil, Ganderbal, Bandipora, Kupwara, Kulgam and Poonch. He directed the DEOs to ensure all necessary arrangements for fair and free holding of elections in their areas as per the para-meters framed by the Election Commission of India from time to time. He said security of people should be the paramount factor during the elections.
He expressed satisfaction about the preparations in these districts. He called for coordinated efforts for making the election process successful.
Narula briefed Zutshi about the measures initiated to meet all the challenges for smooth conduct of first and second phase of elections. He said necessary strategies have been worked out to meet the eventuality, particularly in the most difficult and inaccessible areas.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami was among 11 candidates of various political parties who filed their nominations from 9 constituencies of North and South Kashmir which are going to polls in the second phase of elections next month.
Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami filed his nomination from Kulgam today and he is seeking re-election. He has been representing the constituency since 1996.
Ghulam Ahmad Shah of National Conference (NC) and Asif Jeelani of All India Forward block filed their nominations from Devsar constituency today. The constituency is being represented by Sartaj Madni of PDP.
Inayatullah Rather of Congress filed his nomination from Home Shali Bugh which is being represented by Abdul Gaffar Sofi of PDP.
Jehangir Khan of National Panthers Party (NPP) filed his nomination from Karnah constituency of North Kashmir, Sardar Khan of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Kupwara, Ghulam Mohammad Sofi of PDP filed from Handwara, and from Langate Ghulam Nabi Gania of PDP, Wali Mohammad Bhat of NC, Mohammad Sultan Mir of NC and Mohammad Ramzan Malla, independent candidate filed their nominations.
Karnah is being represented by Kafeel-ur-Rehman, Kupwara Mir Saifullah of NC, Handwara by Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan of NC, Langate by Engineer Rashid.
Earlier Raja Manzoor of PDP, Ali Asghar Congress had filed nominations from Karnah yesterday.
The CPI(M) general secretary was accompanied by Ghulam Hassan Mir, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and other party leaders and large number of supporters.
Addressing a rally at Town Hall Kulgam after filing nominations, Tarigami said that peace in the south Asia is subservient to cordial relations between India and Pakistan and hostilities be pacified on LoC to foster the peace and ensure the development in the sub-continent. He appealed both the countries to carry forward a meaningful dialogue for exploring means to resolve the bilateral issues including Kashmir, besides dialogue with all shades of opinion on the internal front is also an obligation of the Government of India.
Tarigami said that the tainted and tempted bureaucrats are equally adding to this humiliation on securing their space in the political spectrum. “It is very astonishing and sorry state of affairs on the part of the political parties that power hungry corrupt retires are being sensitively positioned in their cadres making the people much dejected and disgusted with the political dispensation”, he remarked.
The CPIM leader said ignoring the miseries of the people after the recent deluge, the central government is putting its all energy in power grabbing in the state by hook or crook, which is vindicated by recent political developments.
The rally was also addressed by Ghulam Hassan Mir, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and other senior leaders, who sought a decisive mandate for Tarigami from the electorate of Kulgam.
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