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| Independents take over election scene in Rajouri | | Talib challenges NC, Ashok shocks Congress | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 5: On last day of filing nomination papers in Rajouri district it was biggest shock of the season for Congress. The distress signs were no lesser for the National Conference while the Peoples Democratic Party already tastes this. Parties are yet to face the dissidence and upfront from their own leaders in this year year’s electoral battle as it has happened in Rajouri. On being denied tickets more than one aspirant from Congress, National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party have filed their nomination papers as independent candidates. The independents have literally taken over the political scene in the district.
Besides Poonch, Rajouri district in Jammu region has a highly caste sensitive political discourse and the choice of parties in giving ticket to candidates of a particular community have brought others from same parties in the open rebellion. Caste sensitive Rajouri district has clear political lines drawn between Gujjars and Paharis. Where two parties have fielded candidates from the same community, the third party expects consolidation of vote bank from the other community. But now with launch of several potential independent candidates drawn from different communities the caste factor will have very little to do as reputation and credulity of the candidate will matter the most.
Congress has seen four dissidents filing their nomination papers in three constituencies while the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party have one each in same constituency. At least four candidates –Choudhary Talib Hussain of National Conference, Mohammad Sharief Tariq of Peoples Democratic Party and Ashok Sharma and Qamar Hussain of the Congress are political heavyweights and have apparently inflicted heavy loss to their respective parties. Two other are though not much reckonable in the race but they still have the potential of upsetting the applecart.
The biggest surprise shock for the Congress has come from staunch party loyalist Ashok Sharma in Kalakote constituency. Sharma had won 1996 election from the same constituency but lost in 2002 to Rashpaul Singh of the Congress. Despite his loss at husting, the Congress party chose him for a seat in the Upper House of the State legislature and he still had a term of two and half years to go.
Sharma was though upset in being denied ticket but his supporters were apparently perturbed over party’s selection of Abdul Ghani Kolhi as the Congress nominee. Kohli had filed and later withdrawn his nomination papers in 2002 as independent candidate and was till recently with the National Conference. He was trying his luck for ticket from both parties and the Congress eventually preferred him over the local candidate. In a fit of rage and under influence of his local supporters, Sharma today filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate.
In terms of potential, the second major shock of the day for any political party was the decision of Chowdhary Talib Hussain to file nomination papers from Rajouri constituency as independent candidate. Talib had an indication from the party leadership for his candidature, but the party at last moment decided to field the sitting legislature in the dissolved assembly. After learning this Talib tried Congress mood but it could not materialize and he filed his papers as independent candidate. Talib has represented this constituency in 1972, 1977 and 1983. He has remained Minister twice and Member Parliament from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency.
Another candidate to jump fray as independent in Rajouri constituency is Qamar Hussain of Congress. He too had contested 2002 elections unsuccessfully and was expecting ticket this time again. The party preferred Shabir Ahmed Khan was the Vice Chairman of the Pahari Advisory Board till recently. Former Minister Mohammad Sharief Tariq is already in the fray as independent candidate after quitting from the Peoples Democratic Party.
Intense battle is in Darhal constituency. Two entrants in politics Mohammad Iqbal Malik and Masud Naseem were expecting Congress ticket for Darhal constituency. Malik had retired as Deputy Commissioner Excise to join the Peoples Democratic Party but when party indicated its preference for Choudhary Zulfikar Ali, he switched over to the Congress few months back. Masud is a youth activist and was with Congress for past few years. Unhappy with party decision both today filed their papers as independent candidates. Congress ticket for Darhal constituency has gone to Thakur Puran Singh who had won election as independent in 2002.
A total of 76 candidates have files their nomination papers for 4 Assembly segments of Rajouri district viz Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote, which will go to poll on November 23. Of them 45 candidates have filed their nomination papers as independent candidates, while 31 belong to different national and regional political parties.
The highest number of nominations have been files in Rajouri Assembly segment, followed by 16 each in Nowshera and Kalakote Assembly constituencies. In Darhal 15 candidates have files their nomination forms also.
The scrutiny of the papers will be done on November 6 in the offices of Returning Officers of these segments, while the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 8. The polling is scheduled to be held in the district in second face on November 23. |
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