Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 7: While the Election Commission today issued notification for second phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir, 16 sets of nomination papers were rejected during scrutiny of papers for first phase of polling in 15 seats of all three regions of the State.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Returning Officers for 18 Assembly segments-nine each in Jammu and Kashmir regions-issued notification this morning inviting nominations from the candidates for Phase-II of polling on December 2. The candidates can file nomination papers till November 14. Scrutiny of documents will take place the next day while nominations can be withdrawn till November 17.
Eighteen Assembly segments for which notification was issued today included Udhampur, Chenani (Reserve) and Ramnagar in Udhampur district, Reasi, Gool-Arnas and Gulabgarh in Reasi district, Poonch-Haveli, Mendhar and Surankote in Poonch district, Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara and Langate in Kupwara district, Noorabad, Kulgam, Home-Shalibugh and Devsar in Kulgam district.
Nominations for 15 Assembly segments-six in Jammu region, all four in Ladakh and five in Kashmir-were closed on November 5. These seats will go to polling in first phase on November 25.
Sources said the Returning Officer for Ramban constituency today rejected nomination papers of Nand Lal of LDF while in Banihal the nomination of Bahaar Ahmad Runiyal, covering candidate for PDP nominee and former bureaucrat Bashir Ahmad Runiyal, was rejected.
In Doda Assembly segment, one set of nomination papers of NC candidate and former Minister Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardhy was rejected after his another set was found valid. Nomination papers of Urfi Mujeed Wani, covering candidate of Congress leader Abdul Mujeed Wani and Riyaz Ahmad Mintoo, covering candidate of PDP were also rejected in Doda. All nomination papers were found in order in Bhaderwah constituency, the second seat of Doda district.
In Kishtwar segment, nomination papers of PDP covering candidate Ishtiyaq Hussain were rejected while in Inderwal segment, the second seat of Kishtwar, all papers were found in order.
However, PDP candidate in Kishtwar Firdous Ahmed Tak through his counsel raised objections on the nomination papers of NC candidate and Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo and BJP candidate Sunil Sharma claiming that they have concealed some information. However, the objections were turned down.
PDP candidate from Inderwal Abdul Majeed Butt also objected to nomination of Congress sitting MLA from Inderwal Ghulam Mohammad Saroori on the ground that he has suppressed information of alleged criminal cases. While the PDP candidate wanted nomination papers of Saroori rejected, the Returning Officer adjourned the matter.
In Leh segment, the Returning Officer rejected nomination papers of BJP covering candidate Gyal Phunchok Wangyal and one set each of Congress candidate and Urban Development Minister Rigzin Jora and BJP candidate Cherring Dorjey. Both of them had filed two sets of nomination papers. Only Jora and Dorjey were left in fray for Leh seat now.
In Nobra segment of Leh district, nomination papers of Tashi Dorjey, BJP covering candidate and Sonam Stopagn, Congress covering candidate were rejected.
In Kashmir Valley, one nomination paper was rejected in Ganderbal seat, two in Bandipora and one in Sonawari while rest of the papers were found in order.
With rejection of 16 nominations, a total of 144 candidates have now been left in fray for first phase of polling.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission today set into motion the process of elections for 18 Assembly segments, which will go to polls in second phase of polling on December 2 in Jammu and Kashmir–nine seats each in the two regions as polling in third region-Ladakh would be completed in the first phase on November 25.
“A total of five districts will go to polls on second phase including Reasi, Udhampur and Poonch all having three Assembly constituencies each totaling 9 in Jammu region and Kupwara and Kulgam in Kashmir region having five and four segments respectively,” sources said.0
Of 18 Assembly segments, the highest number of six are held by ruling National Conference in the outgoing Assembly followed by PDP (4), Congress (3), NPP (2), BJP, CPM and Independent (one each).
Stakes are high for almost all political parties as they would try to retain their seats but an upbeat BJP will go all out on 18 segments as it had just one seat in present Assembly and the party would have to improve its tally drastically as it was making determined bid to capture power for the first time in the State. However, the party was faced with crisis like situation in two constituencies of high voltage contest in Udhampur and Reasi with BJP leader Pawan Gupta revolting against party decision and deciding to join the electoral fray as independent candidate while sitting MLA Baldev Raj Sharma also announcing his decision to contest the election as PDP nominee after both of them were denied party mandate.
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