Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 24: With battle lines drawn for two Parliamentary constituencies of Jammu province after finalisation of candidates by major political parties, the Election Commission’s data revealed that Jammu and Samba districts in Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary seat and Kathua and Udhampur districts in Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat held majority chunk of voters and, therefore, key to the victory of candidates on the two crucial seats.
Official data revealed that Jammu and Samba districts accounted for 11.77 lakh votes in Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary seat while twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch accounted for approximate 6.23 lakh votes.
Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat, which had elected Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma for two consecutive Lok Sabha elections, was based on 20 Assembly segments, 13 of which fall in Jammu and Samba districts (Jammu 11 and Samba 2) while seven districts were in Rajouri and Poonch districts (Rajouri 4 and Poonch 3).
Eleven Assembly constituencies of Jammu district have 9,89,489 electorate while two Assembly segments of Samba district accounted for 1,87,719 voters. Four Assembly constituencies of Rajouri districts have 3,67,934 votes while three Assembly segments of Poonch have 2,55,368 electorates.
Of 11 Assembly constituencies in Jammu district, BJP represents six, Congress 3, Jammu State Morcha and BJP rebel (Prof Chaman Lal Gupta) one each. The BJP holds Jammu City East, Nagrota, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, Domana and Marh Assembly segments while Congress represents Gandhi Nagar, Akhnoor and Chhamb.
JSM leader Ashwani Sharma holds Bishnah while Prof Gupta, who had won Jammu West seat on BJP mandate, has been expelled by the party.
Of two Assembly segments of Samba, NC and NPP hold one each—Vijaypur and Samba respectively.
Of 7 Assembly segments in Rajouri and Poonch districts, NC holds three (Poonch, Nowshera and Kalakote while Congress and PDP represent two each. Congress holds Surankote and Rajouri seats while PDP has Darhal and Mendhar.
BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma, Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma and PDP nominee Yash Pal Sharma are locked in a triangular contest in Jammu-Poonch seat, where a total of 19 candidates including BSP’s Ashok Bhagat and NPP’s Hari Chand Jhalmeria are also in the fray.
In Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary seat, Kathua and Udhampur districts accounted for 8.18 lakh votes with eight Assembly constituencies while erstwhile Doda district with six Assembly segments has 4.9 lakh electorares. Reasi district with three constituencies has 2.22 lakh voters.
Kathua district has maximum number of five Assembly segments with 4.22 lakh votes, three of which are held by the BJP including Bani, Basohli and Hiranagar while Congress Minister Dr Manohar Lal Sharma represents Billawar and Independent MLA Charanjit Singh holds Kathua Main.
Of three Assembly segments of Udhampur district, NPP holds two (Udhampur Main and Ramnagar) while Congress represents the third (Chenani). Udhampur district has 3.96 lakh electorates.
Six Assembly segments of erstwhile Doda district including Ramban and Banihal in Ramban district, Doda and Bhaderwah in Doda district and Kishtwar and Inderwal in Kishtwar district have 4.9 lakh voters. Of 6 Assembly segments of erstwhile Doda, Congress represents 5 while NC holds Kishtwar Main.
Reasi district with 2.22 lakh votes has three Assembly constituencies—Reasi, Gool-Arnas and Gulabgarh—one each held by BJP (Reasi Main), NC (Gulabgarh) and Congress (Gool-Arnas).
Of total 17 Assembly segments falling in Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary seat, Congress holds eight (5 in erstwhile Doda district alone) while BJP has four (three in Kathua district alone), NC and NPP represent two each while Independent Charanjit Singh holds Kathua Main.
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, BJP candidate Dr Jitendra Singh and PDP leader Arshad Malik are locked in a triangular fight in Udhampur-Doda seat though NPP supremo Prof Bhim Singh, BSP candidate Dharam Pal Balgotra and JKDF nominee Anil Gupta also in the fray among others.
March 26 is last date for filing nomination papers in Udhampur-Doda seat.
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