news details |
|
|
| PDP, PC give sleepless nights to NC | | NC on a sticky wicket in second phase | | Bashir Assad
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 29: As the second phase of elections draws nearer, the campaign in poll bound nine seats in valley gets murkier. Three ministers of the ruling National Conference are among the 90 candidates, who are in the fray for nine Assembly constituencies going to polls on December 2 in the second phase. The ministers who are seeking re-election include Sakina Itoo from Noorabad, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan from Handwara and Mir Saifullah from Kupawara. On 3 of the 4 seats in South Kashmir's Kulgam district, there is direct contest between Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference while in Kulgam the fight is between PDP and CPI(M) leader, M Y Tarigami.
In Noorabad constituency, 15 candidates are in the fray including NC Sakina Itoo, and Abdul Majeed Padder of PDP. Sakina has represented the state twice in 1996 and 2008 while her father Wali Mohammad Itoo has won the seat twice on NC ticket - 1977 and 1983. Even though Congress has fielded Manzoor Ahmad Zargar son of former minister and PDP leader, late Abdul Aziz Zargar and BJP has fielded Mushtaq Ahmed Malik, the competition is likely between NC and PDP. Though observers have conflicting opinions about the outcome, however, there is a growing opinion that after Dr. Mehboob Beg dramatically withdrew from the contest in support of PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayed from Anantnag, a change is being felt on ground. The political watchers in Anantnag feel that u-turn taken by Beg has actually demoralized the NC carders in South Kashmir. And Noorabad constituency is not an exception. Other candidates who are trying their luck from Noorabad include Abdur Rehman Magray (BSP), Mushtaq Ahmad (JKNPP), while as Akther Hussain Shah, Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, Tawseef Ahmad Dar, Abdul Rashid Bhat, Gulzar Ahmed Mir, Mohd Amin Teli, Mushtaq Ahmad Doie and Mehraj-ud-Din Dar. Noorabad in 2008 witnessed a voter turnout of 74.11 per cent.
In the prestigious Kulgam constituency 8 candidates are in fray from where CPI (M) state general secretary Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami is seeking re-election for the fourth time. Tarigami won 2008 elections in Kulgam, which saw a voter turnout of 61.66 per cent, by beating his nearest rival, PDP's Nazir Ahmad Laway, by a margin of 236 votes. BJP has fielded a new candidate, Ghulam Hassan Zargar, after the party dropped Manzoor Ahmad Paray following his abysmal performance in 2008 elections. Paray in the last Assembly elections managed to secure only 812 votes.
Other candidates include Nazir Ahmad Laway of PDP, Peer Nazim-ud-Din of Congress , Riyaz Ahmad Shah (BSP), Imran Nabi Dar (NC), Towseef Ahmad Shah (Independent) and Rashida Mir (Independent). This time Tarigami is again facing a tough contest from PDP. Kulgam, it merits a mention here, was represented by Abdul Razaq Bachroo of Jamaat e Islami in 1987 and Jamaat has a significant presence in the constituency even today. Observers highlight that Jamaat carder is the actually disturbing factor for Tarigami.
In Humshalibugh constituency, eight candidates are in the fray for the elections. PDP candidate Abdul Gaffar Sofi, who won 2008 elections by a margin of 4,810 votes, is seeking his re-election for the third time from the constituency. The other candidates include Bashir Ahmad Bhat (BSP), Abdul Majeed Bhat (NC), Anayatullah Rather (INC), Ghulam Nabi Dar (BJP), Mohammad Ayoub Sheikh (JKNPP), Mohd. Amin Bhat (Samajwadi Party) and Abdul Bary Naik (Independent). The real contest here is between PDP and NC.
Similarly in Devsar constituency, eight candidates are in fray. Devsar like Homeshalibugh is considered a stronghold of PDP. PDP candidate Mohammad SartajMadni, who won the last Assembly elections by a margin of 4,001 votes is seeking re-election for the third time from the constituency. NC has fielded Peerzada Gulam Ahmad Shah, who has won the seat three times - 1983, 1987 and 1996 - before losing to Madni in 2002 and 2008.The other candidates include Mohammad Amin Bhat (INC), Mushtaq Ahmad Bhat (BSP), AsifJeelani (AIFB) while as Mudasir Rashid Mir and Nisar Ahmad Hajamare Independents.5 seats of Kupwara district are also going to polls in the second phase on December 2. In 2008 NC won 3 out of 5 (Kupwara, Handwara, Karnah). Lolab constituency was won by PDP and Langate by independent, Er. Rashid.
However, this time all the five seats are likely to witness a triangular contest because Peoples Conference having a very strong and traditional vote bank in the district is also contesting on all the five seats.
Observers believe that retaining its previous three seats will be very difficult for NC. Observers suggest that in Handwara constituency represented by NC's Choudhary Ramzan currently, the real contest is between PC and NC while in Kupwara current represented by Mir Saifullah the fight is between PDP and PC. According to many Mir Saifullah is not in the contest. However, many others have a different opinion who say that Saifullah will give tough fight to both PDP and PC.
In Karnah, where 7 candidates are in the fray for the Assembly elections, NC is on a sticky wicket . NC's Kafil-Ur-Rehman, who is seeking re-elections, in 2008 elections won the seat by a margin of 1,148 votes. The constituency witnessed a voter turnout of 79.19 per cent.
Observers opine that Raja Manzoor Ahamed Khan (PDP) is better placed because of certain unifying factors.In Lolab, nine candidates are in the fray to seek mandate from the voters to secure a Legislative Assembly seat. PDP's Abdul Haq Khan, who is seeking re-election from the constituency, in 2008 won by a margin of 5,347 votes. Other candidates in the fray include Ghulam Ahmad Malik (JKNPP), Ghulam Nabi Shah (BSP), Haji Farooq Ahmad Mir (INC), Qaiser Jamsheed Lone (NC), SuriyaBano (RPI), Abdul RehmanWani (JKPC) and Mohd Sultan Magray (Kisan Mazdoor Party (Ind). In Langat Assembly constituency, 11 candidates including AwamiItihad Party chief Abdul Rashid Sheikh, who is seeking re-election, are trying their luck in the elections scheduled on December 2. Rashid won by a small margin of 210 votes in 2008 election, which witnessed a voter turnout of 61.33 per cent. BJP has also fielded its candidate Mohammad Maqbool War from Langate. Other candidates include Bashir Ahmad Wani (INC), Javid Ahmad Najar (J&K NPP), Ghulam Nabi Ganai (Pandithpori) (PDP), Wali Mohd Bhat (J&KNC), Advocate Mohammad Abdullah Mir (J&KPC), Irshad Hussain Ganai (Independent), Haji Mohd Akbar Ganai (Independent), Mohd Ramzan Malla (Independent) and Mudasir Ahmad Tantray (Independent). |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
