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| Fate of many big-wigs all set to get sealed as first phase of Assembly elections being held today | | More than 10 lakh voters eligible to vote across Kashmir, Jammu regions | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 24: The stage is all set for people to exercise their franchise with 15 assembly segments spread across the length and breadth of the state going to polls in the first phase of five phase elections for the Jammu & Kashmir assembly.
Fate of some of the ministers in the present coalition dispensation would be sealed on Tuesday as people from seven districts of state would take part in the electoral process. Elections are being held in Kangan, Ganderbal, Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Kargil, Zanaskar, Leh, Nobra, Banihal, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Inderwal and Bhaderwah assembly constituencies located in Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu divisions of the state.
More than 10, 51, 000 voters would exercise their right to vote in these assembly constituencies. A total of 1787 polling stations have been set up across the two regions for the voters to cast their votes. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of polls with scores of polling stations already being declared as sensitive or hyper-sensitive.
From the Kangan assembly segment minister for environment and forests, MianAltaf Ahmad is seeking re-election. The Ganderbal constituency this time around would not see any member of the Abdullah family fight election as the sitting legislator and chief minister, Omar Abdullah has decided to vacate his seat for Sheikh IshfaqJabbar.
From the Gurez constituency in Bandipora district, minister of state for sheep and animal husbandry, irrigation and flood control, Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi is seeking re-election. From the Bandipora assembly segment, Peoples Democratic Party legislator Nizam-ud-din Bhat is seeking re-election. Minister for Higher Education in present government, Mohammad Akbar Lone is seeking re-election from the Sonawari assembly seat.
Senior National Conference leader, Qamar Ali Akhoon who is the sitting legislator from Kargil cannot seek re-election since he has been denied the mandate this time by the leadership of National Conference. Another NC leader and minister of state for science and technology, Feroz Ahmad Khan also cannot seek re-election from Zanaskar assembly seat as he too has been denied mandate by the party leadership.
From Leh assembly segment, minister for urban development, Nawang Rigzin Jora is seeking re-election while as TsetanNamgyal would also seek re-election from the Nobra assembly seat.
Minister of state for power in Omar's government, VikarRasoolWani is seeking re-election from Banihal assembly seat on the ticket of Congress. Party's candidate Ashok Kumar would seek re-election from the Ramban constituency. Minister for Roads & Buildings in present coalition government, Abdul Majid Wani would seek re-election from Doda assembly seat on Congress ticket.
From Kishtwar assembly segment, NC leader and minister of state for home and Industries & Commerce, Sajad Ahmad Kichloo is seeking re-election. Congress leader and former minister, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori is seeking re-election from Inderwal constituency. Another Congress leader and close relative of former chief minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mohammad Sharief Niaz is seeking re-election from the Bhaderwah assembly segment.
In the Kangan assembly segment there is an interesting fight between MianAltaf and the PDP candidate Bashir Ahmad Mir. Altaf may pull through this time too, but the margin of his win would be less. In the Ganderbal assembly seat, Qazi Mohammad Afzal of PDP who defeated Omar Abdullah in 2002 seems to be on a strong wicket in comparison to his opponents.
From the Gurez assembly seat, Nazir Gurezi may emerge victorious since he is selling his accomplishments like anything. In the Bandipora constituency there is a neck to neck fight between Nizam-ud-din Bhat of PDP and Usman Majeed of Congress and the winner in all probability would be decided by a wafer thin margin. In Sonawari there is a close fight between Akbar Lone and his PDP opponent YasirReshi with Congress candidate ImtiyazParray also likely to put up a good show. Given the strong 'encroachment' of BharatiyaJanta Party (BJP) in Ladakh it would be very difficult for both Jora and Namgyal to retain their seats. PDP may emerge victorious from Kargil seat since their candidate Inayat Ali got the support of influential Islamia School few days back. The Zanaskar seat can be won by any candidate with the voting pattern on the D-day holding key to the chances of the contestants.
In Banihal there is a good fight between VikarRasool, Bashir Ahmad Runiyal of PDP and SajadShaheen of National Conference. Ramban seat may go to BJP as the saffron 'wave' may sweep the other parties in Hindu dominated areas. Elections in Doda are also very intense but the sitting legislator may pull through if his dedicated supporters vote in his favour.
Kishtwar assembly seat is being viewed with great interest and it would be a herculean task for Kichloo to retain his seat. Bhaderwah may spring a surprise this time around and BJP may win this seat in all probability. Congress would also find it very difficult to retain the Inderwal assembly seat. |
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