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| First phase lacks enthusiasm | | No big rally anywhere in 10 segments | | ET REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 9: It is a political affair with no sheen. Just seven days have left for first phase of polling and there is not even an appropriate presence of banners or flags across ten constituencies in four districts of state going to polls in first phase on November 17.
Except few public meetings of Peoples Democratic Party leader Mehbooba Mufti in Poonch and one Congress rally addressed by Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saif-ud-Din Soz in Leh no major political event has been witnessed in four districts which kick off the polling process. It is passing off as an unusually low key affair even as a record number of 102 candidates are contesting elections in ten constituencies where there were only 42 on 2002 elections.
None of the political parties either in Kashmir or in Jammu has held any major election rally since the notification for the first phase was issued on October 24 for elections to 10 constituencies - four in Ladakh, three each in Poonch and Bandipora districts.
Token banners and posters of candidates have been put up in some rural constituencies but the routine bustle associated with canvassing is absent. Campaigning in urban regions is virtually non-existent with people in several areas even unaware of the candidates.
Though at some places leaders of different political parties organised some rallies but they were more of workers' conventions than election rallies. Observers say the Amarnath land row and the subsequent poll-boycott call given by separatists have apparently cast a shadow on the campaigning.
The political parties are preferring to invite workers and supporters to their high security residences and offices in Srinagar and address them. Locals alleged that the politicians, including former ministers, have converted their residences into election offices at Tulsibagh and Sonawar areas of the city.
The Estates Department has already served notices to the former ministers and members of the assembly to vacate the official accommodation but to no avail. Mohammad Ramzan Parray, a resident of Sonawar, complained that the leaders were bringing villagers from their constituencies, causing great inconvenience to the locals.
"It is not only causing traffic jams but has also affected the business of shopkeepers in the area because of the security arrangements", he said. There have been instances of some leaders being attacked after they came out to canvass.
Clashes broke out between workers of National Conference and local youths on the visit of NC President Omar Abdullah to Naidkhai in Sonawari constituency of Bandipora Considered a bastion of counter-insurgent groups better known as "Ikhwanis', the constituency this time has not seen much activity by political parties.
Peoples Democratic Party candidate Yasir Reshi was also attacked by people near Safapora last week. In 1996 polls, when a boycott was called in most parts of Kashmir, political parties organised election rallies there.
A militant turned politician Usman Majeed who was elected to the assembly for the first time in 2002 elections from Bandipora constituency is seeking re-election this time as an independent.
Majeed is backed by state Congress while PDP has fielded its senior leader and general secretary Nizamuddin Bhat, a native of Bandipora.
Majeed's rally was attacked twice on October 31 and November two. However, he escaped unhurt.
Ganderbal constituency from where NC President Omar Abdullah is seeking election to the assembly observed a complete shutdown on November three when he went there to file his nomination.
His PDP rival and former forest minister Qazi Mohammad Afzal got a similar cold reception on November four. Qazi had to face public wrath twice last week when he tried to organize public rallies.
In South Kashmir, the situation is no different. At least two workers of PDP were injured when a group of youth attacked the vehicles carrying supporters of the party at Diyalgam in Anantnag district on November two.
They were on their way from Kokernag town to Anantnag Dak Bungalow where the poll rally was being addressed by PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Former state congress president Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, who is Congress candidate from Kokernag constituency, escaped unhurt when locals attacked his cavalcade at Badura-Achabal where he had gone to condole the death of a party supporter. |
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