Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU/SRINAGAR, Nov 14: Two hundred and nine candidates have joined the battle of ballot for second phase of polling in 18 Assembly constituencies of the State-nine each in Jammu and Kashmir, the nominations for which closed today. These segments will go to polls on December 2.
While 116 candidates have joined the electoral fray for nine constituencies in Jammu region-three each in Udhampur, Reasi and Poonch districts, 93 have filed their nominations for nine seats in Kupwara and Kulgam districts of Kashmir, official sources told the Excelsior.
Several sitting and former Ministers, legislators and ex-MLAs/MLCs were among those who have joined the fray for Phase-II of polling, they said.
Scrutiny of documents will be held tomorrow while candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till November 17.
The Election Commission today also issued notification for third phase of polling on December 9 for 16 seats of the Valley.
In a surprise development, Nissar Khan, a Cabinet Minister in Farooq Abdullah regime in 1996, joined the fray from Mendhar constituency as Independent candidate today.
Thirty-five candidates today joined electoral fray for nine Assembly constituencies of Jammu region including three each in Udhampur, Reasi and Poonch districts while BJP strongman Pawan Gupta today joined a long list of rebels in the party and filed his nomination papers for Udhampur Assembly constituency after taking out a massive rally in Udhampur town against party’s official candidate Pawan Khajuria, who also filed the papers today.
Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh, MP from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav and BJP state president Jugal Kishore Sharma accompanied Khajuria when he filed papers before the Returning Officer in Udhampur today.
Meanwhile, BJP rebel Pawan Gupta, who had narrowly lost in 2008 to NPP’s Balwant Singh Mankotia also submitted his nomination papers.
Gupta took out a rally in Udhampur town and outskirts as his thousands of supporters carrying placards and banners in his support marched throughout the town for six hours in the morning before BJP rebel filed his nomination papers.
Social and political activist Karnail Singh led another huge rally in Reasi as he joined battle of ballots from Reasi Assembly constituency today as an Independent candidate.
Dr Singh, Madhav and Sharma accompanied Pawan Khajuria as he took out a procession in Udhampur town before filing nomination papers for Udhampur Assembly seat. Khajuria later held a rally at Sailan Talab and called upon the people to strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by voting in his favour. He declared that the BJP would capture the seat.
In his address to the massive crowd, Pawan Gupta declared that he was the candidate of `Real BJP’, which was evident from the fact that entire party office bearers, Sarpanchs and Panchs apart from the local people were supporting his candidature.
Apart from Pawan Gupta and Pawan Khajuria, an Independent candidate Dharam Pal also joined fray from Udhampur on last day of filing of nomination papers.
The stage was now finally set for triangular fight among sitting NPP MLA from Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia, BJP rebel Pawan Gupta and BJP candidate Pawan Khajuria from the constituency though NC, Congress, BSP and PDP candidates apart from Independents were also in the fray. The electoral battle has become prestigious for the trio.
The BJP had last won the seat in 1996 with party stalwart Lala Shiv Charan Gupta capturing the seat while Mankotia won it for two straight terms in 2002 and 2008 and is in fray for hat-trick. Pawan Gupta had lost the seat in 2008 with narrow margin while Pawan Khajuria is contesting the Assembly election for the first time.
In Ramnagar constituency of Udhampur district, three more candidates today joined the fray. They included Rajinder Kumar (covering candidate for BJP), Hidayatullah and Sanju Kumar (both Independents). BJP candidate RS Pathania also filed second set of nomination papers today.
No nominations were filed for Chenani (Reserve) seat of Udhampur today.
In another prestigious seat of Reasi, Independent candidate Karnail Singh, a social and political activist today displayed massive show of strength before filing his nomination papers. Thousands of people marched with Singh to the office of the Returning Officer eulogizing him.
Other candidates, who filed their nomination papers for Reasi constituency today included Balwan Singh (NPP), Meenakshi Sharma wife of sitting MLA Baldev Sharma (Independent), Kuldeep Singh and Rano Devi (both Independents). Meenakshi filed her papers as covering candidate for her husband, who was also in the race as an independent candidate after being denied mandate by the BJP. Saraf Singh, another strong independent candidate, who had taken voluntary retirement as KAS officer, filed another set of nomination papers for Reasi seat.
In Gulabgarh segment of Reasi district, three candidates today joined the electoral fray including Sardar Johar Singh (BSP), Mohammad Israyil (covering candidate for BJP) and Mohammad Ayub (Independent). They filed documents before Returning Officer, Ashwani Khajuria.
In Gool-Arnas segment of Reasi district, Independent Rumal Singh joined the fray.
In Poonch Assembly segment, seven candidate including Congress nominee Bashir Naz today filed their nomination papers. Others, who joined the fray, are Ishfaq Ahmad (BSP), Riaz Naz (covering candidate for Congress), Atiqa Begum (covering candidate for NC), Javed Iqbal Qureshi and Mohammad Kabir (both Independents) and Mohammad Rashid (NPP).
Eight candidates joined the electoral fray in Mendhar today including Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council Javed Rana (NC), Nissar Ahmad Khan, former Minister and 1996 MLA (Independent), Mohammad Azam Neelu (Hindustan Kranti Dal), Mushtaq Ahmad (Pir Panjal Awami Party), Nazir Hussain (covering candidate for NC), Mohammad Azim Khan and Yaar Mohammad Khan (both Independents) and Mohammad Azam Khan (covering candidate for PDP).
Four candidates filed their papers for Surankote seat of Poonch district today. They were Naseer-ul-Salam (BSP), Mohammad Sadiq Qureshi and Mohammad Shah (both Independents) and Abdul Hamid Khan (covering candidate for PDP).
Meanwhile, the Election Commission today issued a notification for the third phase of the five-phased Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir for 16 constituencies where voting will be held on December 9.
The notification was issued by respective Returning Officers of 16 Assembly segments, all of which fall in the Kashmir valley.
The constituencies for which the notification was issued today include Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan in Baramulla district, Chadoora, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-e-Sharief (Budgam district), Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora in Pulwama district.
The last date for filing of nominations is November 21 while the scrutiny of the papers shall be conducted the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is November 24.
Fifty four and 39 candidates have filed their nominations from nine constituencies of Kupwara and Kulgam district respectively on the last day of filing nomination papers.
From Kulgam constituency of district Kulgam, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami who is seeking re-election, 8 candidates have filed their nominations.
Those who filed nominations besides Tarigami are Peer Nazim-ud-Din of Congress, Riyaz Ahmad Shah of BSP, Nazir Ahmad Laway of PDP, Imran Nabi Dar of NC, Ghulam Hassan Zargar of BJP and Towseef Ahmad Shah and Rashida Mir as Independents.
From Noorabad Assembly constituency of Kulgam, 15 candidates have filed their nominations. The constituency is represented by Sakina Itoo, of National Conference, and she is seeking re-election from there.
Apart from Sakina those who filed papers from Noorabad are Abdul Majeed Padder of PDP, Manzoor Ahmad Zargar of Congress, Mushtaq Ahmad Malik of BJP, Mushtaq Ahmad Mir of National Panthers Party, Ab Rehman Magray of BSP and Mushtaq Ahmad Dar Independent, Abdul Rashid Bhat, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Tawseef Ahmad Dar, Gulzar Ahmad Mir, Akther Hussain Shah, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Mehraj-ud-Din Dar and Mohammad Amin Teli as Independents.
From Humshalibugh of district Kulgam, where from Abdul Gaffar Sofi of PDP, is seeking re-election, 8 candidates have filed their nominations.
Besides Sofi, Abdul Majeed Bhat of NC, Anayatullah Rather of Congress, Mohammad Ayoub Sheikh of NPP, Dr Abdul Bary Naik of AIP, Mohammad Amin Bhat of SP, Ghulam Nabi Dar of BJP and Bashir Ahmad Bhat of BSP filed their nominations.
From Devsar constituency of Kulgam where from Mohammad Sartaj Madni of PDP is seeking re-election 8 candidates have filed their nominations.
Besides Madni, Peerzada Ghulam Mohammad Shah of NC, Mohammad Amin Bhat of Congress, Asif Jeelani of Forward Bloc, Nisar Ahmad Hajam of AJKPF, Fayaz Ahmad Bhat of BJP, Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat of BSP and Mudasir Rashid Mir as Independent have filed their nominations.
From Karnah in North Kashmir district of Kupwara wherefrom Kafil-ur-Rehman of NC is seeking re-election 8 candidates have filed nominations.
Besides Rehman, Raja Manzoor of PDP, Javed Ahmad Mirchal PDP, Ali Ashghar of Congress, Jehangir of NPP, Ishfaq-ur-Rehman of BJP, Mohammad Salim Mir PC, Aijaz Ahmad Badana of KMP.
From Kupwara wherefrom Saifullah Mir of NC is seeking re-election, 12 candidates have filed nominations.
Besides Mir, Fayaz Ahmad Mir of PDP, Sardar Khan of BSP, Bashir Ahmad Dar of PC, Wali Mohammad Khan of NPP, Ghulam Rasool Malik of Congress, Ghulam Hassan Sheikh of KMP, Abdul Rehman Lone of BJP, Saifullah Khan of NCP, Mohammad Amin of AIP, Sahil Mushtaq and Javed Ahmad have filed as independents.
From Lolab wherefrom Abdul Haq Khan of PDP is seeking re-election, 10 candidates have filed nominations.
Besides Khan, Qaisar Jamshed Lone of NC, Abdul Rehman Wani of PC, Abdul Rashid Zargar of BJP, Haji Farooq Mir of Congress, Suraya Bano of Indian Republic Party (IRP), Ghulam Nabi Shah of BSP, Mohammad Sultan Magrey of KMP, Ghulam Ahmad Malik of NPP and Ghulam Nabi Bhat as Independent filed their nominations.
From Handwara constituency, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan of NC who is seeking re-election 12 candidates have filed nominations.
Besides Ramzan, Ghulam Mohidin Sofi of PDP, Sajjad Lone of PC, Mohammad Yasin Bhat of Congress, Aijaz Ahmad Sofi of AIP, Mohammad Abdullah Bhat of NPP, Ghulam Qadir Mircha of KMP, Sajjad Ahmad Pir of BSP and Anayatullah Lohar, Haneefa Begam, Hilal Ahmad Tantray and Abdul Rehman Tantray as independents filed their nomination papers from Handwara.
From Langate constituency, Engineer Sheikh Rashid, Independent, who is seeking re-election, 12 candidates have filed nominations.
Besides Rashid, those who filed nominations are Wali Mohammad Bhat of NC, Mohammad Ramzan Mir of NC, Ghulam Nabi Gania of PDP, Advocate Mohammad Abdullah Mir of PC, Javed Ahmad Najar of NPP, Bashir Ahmad Wani of Congress, Mohammad Maqbool War of BJP, Abdul Ahad Khan of BSP and Mohammad Malik , Mudasir Ahmad Tantray,Irshad Ahmad Gania and Haji Mohammad Akbar Gania, Independents filed nominations from Langate.
In Gulabgarh Assembly constituency of Reasi district, 11 candidates, Shafiq-Ur-Rehman (PDP), Mumtaz Ahmed (INC), Abdul Gani Malik (NC), Khalid Jahangir (Substitute Candidate of NC), Bashir-Ud-Din (JKNPP), Shaber Ahmed (Hindustan Janta Party), Pardeep Singh (BJP), Mohd Ayub (Independent), Jawahar Singh (BSP) and Mohd Israil (ST) have filed their nomination papers.
In Reasi Assembly segment, 16 candidates, Ajay Nanda (BJP), Om Parkash (CPI-M), Jugal Kishore (Congress), Karan Singh (BSP), Chain Singh (JKNPP), Jagjivan Lal (NC) and Sandeep Rajput (BSP) filed their nominations whereas 9 candidates Anil Kumar, Baldev Raj Sharma, Bansi Lal, Rano Devi, Saraf Singh, Karnail Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Meenakshi Singh Sharma have filed their nomination papers as Independents.
In Gool Arnas, 12 candidates, Kuldeep Raj Dubey (BJP), Shiban (BSP), Sonica Venakshi (Covering Candidate BSP), Ajaz Ahmed Khan (Congress), Shamshad Bano (NC), Shakeel Ahmed (JKNPP), Imtiyaz Ahmed Shan (PDP), Shamsher Singh (Covering Candidate) filed their nominations whereas 4 candidates Arjun Singh, Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Haji Abdul Rehman and Romail Singh filed their nomination papers as Independents
In Udhampur Assembly constituency, 12 candidates, Sunil Verma (NC), S. Ranjit Singh (BSP), Sukhdev Sharma (PDP), Dharam Paul (Hindustan Janta Party), Pawan Khajuria (BJP), Dharam Pal (Hindustan Janta Party), Ashok Kumar Gupta (INC), Amit Kumar Modi, substitute candidate (INC), Balwant Singh Mankotia (JKNPP) and Sukhdev Sharma (PDP) filed their nominations whereas 2 candidates Pawan Kumar Gupta and Soma filed their nomination papers as Independents.
In Chenani (SC) Assembly Constituency, 8 candidate Pushpa Devi (SP), Hans Raj (PDP), Sansar Chand (NC), Pushpa Devi Dogra (SP), Mohinder Kumar (BSP), Dhani Ram Atri (JKNPP) Dina Nath (BJP) and Krishan Chander (INC) filed their papers.
In 62- Ramnagar Assembly seat, 12 candidates Rajinder Kumar (Substiture) (BJP), Ranbir Singh Pathania (BJP), Harsh Dev Singh (JKNPP), Vinod Kumar Sharma (INC), Vikrant Sharma (Substitute) (INC), Sukham Chand (BSP), Ram Pyari (Substitute (BSP), Ranbir Singh Pathania (BJP), Raj Kapoor (NC) and Mohd Amin (Substitute) (NC) filed their nominations whereas 2 candidates Hadayat Ullah and Sanju Kumar filed their nomination papers as Independents.
In Surankote Assembly constituency, 12 candidates, Mohd Taj (BJP), Mohd Akram (INC), Ashfaq Rana (JKNPP), Javid Ahmed (All India Forward Bloc), Mohd Azad Khan (BJP), Iqbal Hussain Shah (PDP), Syed Mushtaq Ahmed Shah (JK-NC), Advocate Naseer-Ul-Islam Ahmed (BSP) and Abdul Hamid Khan (PDP) filed their nominations whereas 3 candidates Ayaz Ahmed Mughal, Mohd Sadiq Qureshi and Mohd Shah filed their nomination papers as Independents.
In Mendhar Assembly constituency, 16 candidates, Mohd Tariq Khan (JKNPP), Mohd Shafeeq Khan (BSP), Mohd Mahroof Khan (PDP), Murtaza Ahmed Khan (INC), Zulfqar Hussain Khan (BJP), Mohd Azam (Meelu) (Hindustan Krantikari Dal, Nisar Ahmed Khan (Nil), Mushtaq Ahmed ( Pir Panjal Awami Party), Javed Ahmed Rana (NC) Ch. Nazir Hussain (NC) and Mohd Azam Khan (PDP) filed their nominations whereas 5 candidates Nisar Hussain Shah, Abdul Majeed Chowan, Mohd Sharief Khan, Mohammed Azim Khan and Yaar Mohammad Khan filed their nomination papers as Independents.
In Poonch-Haveli Assembly constituency, 15 candidates, Shah Mohd Tantray (PDP), Shamim Ahmed Dar (PDP), Pardeep Sharma (BJP), Chaman Lal (BJP), Mohd Younis (JK Pir Panjal Awami Party), Ajaz Ahmed Jan (NC), Mohd Rashid (JKNPP), Atiqa Begum (NC), Ch Bashir Ahmed Naz (INC), Ch Riyaaz Naz (INC) and Ashfaq Ahmed (BSP) filed their nominations whereas 4 candidates Ameer Hussain Shah, Chaudhary Abdul Ghani, Mohd Kabir Qureshi and Javid Iqbal Reshi filed their nomination papers as Independent.
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