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| Anti-incumbency factor haunts coalition | | Litmus test for Govt in Chenab Valley | |
Early Times Report
Kishtwar, Dec 2: For the first time in almost four decades 33,540 Sarpanchs and Panchs of Jammu and Kashmir will cast their votes to elect four MLC candidates for Legislative Council of State and will decide the future of 37 candidates including 21 from Jammu division.
17,912 Panchs and Sarpanchs will elect two MLCs from Kashmir Division and 15,628 Panchs and Sarpanchs will choose two candidates from Jammu Division for which the polling is schedule to be held tomorrow.
The main contest on two seats in Jammu Division is between the coalition and main opposition party PDP. Both the parties through massive campaigning in Chenab valley tried to woo the Panchs and Sarpachs.
The Chenab Valley which is considered a strong bastion of coalition government particularly for Congress party that has 5 MLA from the region.The anti incumbency factor haunts the coalition. There is a rift between the Congress and National Conference party workers over the non representation from Chenab valley in state cabinet. Even though Ghulam Mohammad Saroori who was removed from the cabinet two years ago campaigned hard over last two weeks along with coalition minister to motivate Sarpanchs and Panchs to vote in favour of coalition Candidate Dr. Shahnaz Ganie (NC) and Sham Lal Baghat ( Congress), there is no guarantee that Sarpachs and Panchs will heed him.
There is also anger among the Congress backed Sarpanchs on the commitment made by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the floor of the house that he will be re inducted as soon as CBI gives clean chit to him.
The clearance has come but Omar has not inducted him in the cabinet. Similarly National Conference works too are annoyed over denying MLA Kishtwar Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo a cabinet birth. Omar had promised to take him in the cabinet in2008 election campaign.
Sarpanchs and Panchs while expressing their views to Early Times said that they are free to cast their votes in favour of any candidate. They said that since the election has been contested on non party bases, as such anti defection law is not applicable on them.
In the charged atmosphere, the state is likely to witness tuff contest between the coalition candidates and principal opposition party PDP. Meanwhile elaborate security arrangements have been put into place in entire Chenab valley to thwart any attempt from anti national elements to sabotage the poll process. All the entry and exit points connecting different areas of Chenab valley with rest of the state and local routes have been sealed. The security personal on duty have been advised to keep check on entry of vehicles in any part of the valley. |
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