Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 19: Three candidates-Devender Rana (National Conference), Rani Blowria (Congress) and Yashpal Sharma (PDP) were set to be elected unopposed to Legislative Council from three seats of Jammu division on February 21, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers as documents of their lone Independent opponent Sardar Kalu Khan Hamdard were rejected during scrutiny today while main opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) threw a spanner in unanimous election of four candidates from Kashmir division by giving 10 sponsors to Independent candidate, Shiban Krishen Dudha, leading to acceptance of his nomination form and a contest on four seats of the Valley.
Nomination form of Congress leader and sitting MLC Mohammad Amin Bhat, who was retiring on March 16 along with seven other members of the Upper House and had yesterday joined the fray as an Independent candidate from Kashmir division seat, was rejected during the scrutiny as his documents were not found in order. Ten mandatory sponsors hadn’t supported his form, which was must for an Independent candidate to stay in the fray.
Returning Officer for the elections, Mohammad Ramzan, Secretary Legislative Assembly, told the Excelsior that nomination forms of two candidates-Mr Bhat from Kashmir seat and Mr Hamdard from Jammu seat were rejected during scrutiny today while documents of all other 10 candidates were found in order.
With the rejection of nomination of Mr Hamdard, who was lone opponent of three candidates on Jammu division seats, all three would be elected unopposed to the Council on February 21, the last date for filing nomination papers, official sources said, adding that the Returning Officer had to wait till last date of withdrawals to declare the candidates elected as unopposed if there was no other nominee in the fray.
Three candidates, who would make it to the Legislative Council uncontested, included Devender Rana (NC), Rani Blowria (Congress) and Yashpal Sharma (PDP). This would be second term in the Upper House for Mr Rana, who had served as Political Advisor to Chief Minister and was presently provincial president of the National Conference.
Ms Blowria and Mr Sharma would be making it to the Upper House for the first time. Both of them had contested Assembly elections earlier from Vijaypur and Poonch respectively but couldn’t make it to the Lower House. Ms Blowria had, however, served as Deputy Mayor of Jammu Municipal Corporation.
For four seats of Kashmir division and lone seat reserved for Doda district, the election would be held on March 7 unless lone Independent candidate in fray for Valley seat and NPP candidate in contest for Doda seat withdrew from the race on February 21, the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.
While contest for lone seat reserved for Doda district had become imminent yesterday when National Panthers Party (NPP) fielded its candidate Mohammad Iqbal for the seat against Congress candidate Naresh Gupta, the contest for four seats of Kashmir division was enforced by the opposition backed Independent candidate Shiban Krishen Dudha, whose nomination paper was endorsed by 10 MLAs of PDP leading to acceptance of his papers by the Returning Officer.
Now, five candidates would contest for four seats of Kashmir division including Muzaffar Ahmad Parray (Congress), Abdul Majeed Bhat Larnoo and Showkat Hussain Ganai (both NC), Nayeem Akhter (PDP) and Shiben Krishen Dudha (Independent).
For Doda seat, there would be direct contest between Naresh Gupta (Congress) and Mohammad Iqbal (NPP). The election would be held on March 7 while counting would take place in the afternoon and results declared in the evening.
While victory of Mr Gupta on Doda reserve seat for a foregone conclusion in view of majority of NC-Congress Alliance in the Lower House, whose members comprised the Electoral College, the Alliance would have to keep its House intact as well as allies and Independents to win three seats. On Doda seat, the winner required 45 votes while Alliance has over 50.
Sources said the candidates securing 18 votes on Kashmir division seat would be through. While making Nayeem Akhter secure with at least 19 votes, the PDP has two surplus votes. Mr Dudha told the Excelsior that he was banking on the support of surplus votes of PDP besides NPP, BJP, BJP rebels, Independents and some members from within NC and Congress.
“I would ask all the parties for conscience vote”, he said, adding that he was educated and victim of militancy and hoped that the parties would make him victorious to champion the cause of the people.
NPP leader Harshdev Singh said the NPP-PDP agreement was presently confined to Jammu and Doda seats. “We had to support PDP on Jammu seat while they had to reciprocate by supporting our candidate on Doda seat”, he said, adding that the PDP didn’t need our votes on Kashmir seat as they already had enough members to see their candidate through.
Mr Singh said they were yet to take a decision on supporting Mr Dudha. Sources in BJP and BJP rebels said they would take a decision on Kashmir seat when Mr Dudha approached them.
PDF leader Hakim Mohammad Yasin, a party with which Mr Dudha was affiliated, said he was yet to take a decision on the candidature of Mr Dudha. “He (Mr Dudha) has filed the nomination papers on his own with the support of PDP. We would take a decision on extending support to any of the candidates shortly”, he added.
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