Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 19: ULB elections were held on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. Results will be out on Saturday, October 20. But whatever the result, one thing is crystal clear: Internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus all set to create a history of sorts. Thanks to the Kashmir-based PDP, the NC, the CPI-M and other small political groups, which boycotted the ULB elections.
At least 25 Kashmiri Hindus living in Jammu have been elected unopposed on BJP tickets from Kashmir. On Saturday, the Kashmiri Hindu refugee voters could seal the fate of many contestants, as in many wards, only 2-3 percent votes were cast. The election authorities had allowed internally-displaced Kashmiri Hindus to vote through postal ballots.
It needs to be underlined that due to the boycott by the NC, the PDP and the CPI-M, no less than 80 BJP candidates have been elected unopposed in the ULB polls out of which 33 per cent are Kashmiri Hindu refugees living in Jammu. The BJP had fielded at least 35 Kashmiri Hindu candidates in different wards in Kashmir. 25 of them were elected unopposed. In Srinagar, there is a contest on three seats on which Kashmiri Hindus have filed nominations. Similarly, in other parts, Kashmiri Hindus are in contest with others."
Kashmiri Hindus wining so many seats in Kashmir have upset the NC and the People's Democratic Front (PDF). NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar has dismissed the ULB polls in Kashmir as a "meaningless and sham." |
