Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Apr 10: More than 33 lakh voters will decide the fate of 33 candidates in the twin Parliamentary constituencies of Jammu-Poonch and Baramulla-Kupwara, which are going to polls tomorrow in the first phase of the seven-phased general elections. While 24 candidates are trying their luck for Jammu-Poonch constituency, only nine contestants are in fray in Baramulla-Kupwara Lok Sabha seat.
BJP sitting MP from Jammu-Poonch constituency, Jugal Kishore Sharma is seeking second consecutive term having won the seat in 2014 with a huge margin of 2.57 lakh votes.
Jugal Sharma is pitched against Congress leader and former Minister, Raman Bhalla besides Dogra Swabhiman Front leader and former Minister, Choudhary Lal Singh, Nationalist Panthers Party supremo Prof Bhim Singh and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate, Badrinath among others. Bhalla has the support of National Conference, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and CPM.
Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, who is Returning officer for Jammu Parliamentary constituency, told the Excelsior that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has made elaborate arrangements for free and fair polling on Jammu seat.
Kumar said over 20 lakh voters will exercise their right to franchise for electing their Lok Sabha representative in Jammu-Poonch seat, which is based on four districts including Jammu, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch.
He said that provision of Assured Minimum facilities have been made at all the polling stations, especially for people with disabilities, as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
Police said tight security arrangements have been made in all polling stations of Jammu Parliamentary seat and strict surveillance was being kept in sensitive areas.
Additional companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), deputed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, have been deployed in the entire constituency to assist local police to ensure free and fair polling.
The Election Commission has also deployed Observers for the constituency, who will monitor the polling tomorrow to ensure smooth conduct of polling. General, Expenditure, Micro and Macro Observers have been deputed district wise to keep vigil on polling and address the issues on spot.
In Jammu, 20,05,730 voters including 10,40,876 males and 9,64,834 females will cast their votes at 2,740 polling stations to decide the political fortune of 24 candidates. “We have put in place all the necessary arrangements, including security setup. we are committed to hold free and fair polls,” police said. There are 244 polling stations falling along the International Border (IB) and the Line of Control (LoC) in Samba, Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts of the constituency and contingency has been put in place in case there is shelling from Pakistan side.
Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah have canvassed for the saffron party’s candidate at Akhnoor and Sunderbani respectively in a bid to retain the seat, while Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh too held two rallies at Marh and Suchetgarh on Monday.
Notably, the Congress’ star campaigners were missing in action in the region and the party mostly banked on the services of veteran leaders including former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad besides AICC (I) Secretaries, Shakeel Ahmad Khan and Sudhir Sharma.
Though National Conference and PDP have declared support to Congress candidate, NC president, Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president, Omar Abdullah didn’t address any rally in Jammu-Poonch constituency but local NC leaders campaigned for Raman Bhalla.
Choudhary Lal Singh also took out rallies and addressed public meetings at various places of Jammu-Poonch seat. Prof Bhim Singh too campaigned in several areas to garner support for his candidature.
BSP candidate Badrinath organized public meetings in number of areas.
Meanwhile, ahead of Parliament elections in Baramulla constituency tomorrow, all arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of polls.
The polling staff has already reached the polling stations amid tight security provided by the para-military Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police while Army is doing area domination to prevent any militant strike or forces inimical to peace and elections to disrupt the polling.
Authorities have also snapped mobile internet services as part of security measure. The train services in the region have also been suspended.
The voting scheduled for tomorrow will start from 7 a.m till 6 p.m Authorities have put in place all necessary preparations and security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the voting.
Around 13, 12, 148 voters will decide the fate of 9 candidates in the fray in Baramulla constituency where 1,749 polling stations have been set up at 1387 locations.
The constituency will witness contest among Mohammad Akbar Lone of NC, Raja Aijaz Ali?of People’s Conference, Abdul Qayam Wani of PDP and Independent candidate Engiener Rahid. BJP has fielded MM War and Congress?Haji Farooq Mir.
Meanwhile, separatist Hurriyat Conference today called for a complete shut down tomorrow against Parliamentary elections and NIA arrest and summoning of its leaders.
“Tomorrow’s complete shutdown (Hartal) is against Parliamentary elections that are going to start from tomorrow, against NIA aggression which includes the shifting of JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik to Tihar jail Delhi under the pretext of questioning by NIA, rigorous questioning of Mirwaiz Mohammad Umar Farooq at NIA headquarters in Delhi that has continued for three days now, sustained interrogation and repeated summoning of two sons of senior veteran leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani namely Naeem-uz-Zafar Geelani and Naseem Geelani to Delhi by NIA, closure of Kashmirs main highway for civilians for two days a week and force used on inmates at Central Jail Srinagar in which many inmates sustained bullet and pellet injuries and many have been shifted to unknown jails and interrogation Centre”, said a statement issued by the Hurriyat Conference.
While appealing people to stay away from upcoming Indian Parliamentary polls, Hurriyat said that besides a complete shutdown across the Valley on 11th April, shutdowns (protest strike) will be observed on 18th April, in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts, on 23rd in Anantnag, on 29th April, in Anantnag and Kulgam and on 6th May, in Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama areas.
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