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| People to decide 10 out of 102 aspirants | | First phase polling today | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 16: Stage is set for tough battle as 102 candidates try their fate in ten assembly constituencies spread over four districts going to polls tomorrow.
State administration and officials associated with the election duty claim to have made foolproof security and other arrangement for conduct of fair and free polls. Reports reaching here from Srinagar said that elaborate arrangements have been made to thwart separatists’ trooping to Bandipore district for enforcing boycott call. Bandipore, having three constituencies, is the only district in Kashmir Valley going polls in first phase.
The constituencies where polling is being held tomorrow are Bandipora, Gurez, Kargil, Leh, Mendhar, Nobra, Poonch-Haveli, Sonawari, Surankote and Zanskar spread over the Bandipora, Kargil, Leh and Poonch districts.
The constituencies going to polls tomorrow have a total electorate of 6,06,667 including 8,505 service electors. A total of 102 candidates are in fray for 10 constituencies—Surankote, Mendhar, Poonch-Haveli, Gurez, Bandipora, Sonawari, Nobra, Leh, Kargil and Zanskar—for the first phase of seven-phase assembly elections in the State beginning 17 November.
Sonawari, one of the three constituencies in Bandipore district, will see the defeat of 21 contestants as 22 contestants are in fray. The constituency has 84,772 registered voters. Of them 43,766 are male and 41,006 are female. The total number of polling stations is 101.
Bandipora constituency, with 19 candidates in fray, will also see defeat to 18 candidates. The total number of electorate in the constituency is 86,306 including 45,340 male and 40,966 female voters. Authorities have set up 111 polling stations is the constituency.
The third constituency in the district is that of Gurez where 15,411 electors, 8,087 male and 7,324 female, will decide fate of six candidates. The total number of polling stations is the constituency is 25.
Poonch, which has 2, 61,296 voters –1,33,728 male and 1,27,568 female— which will elect one of the 13 contestants in fray. The number of polling stations in the district is 353.
Mendhar assembly constituency has 78,846 registered voters. Of them, 40,007 are male and 38,839 female. Twelve candidates are in fray for this constituency. The number of polling stations is 108.
There are 11 candidates in the fray for Surankote assembly constituency which has 85,129 registered electors including 43,590 male and 41,539 female voters. The total number of polling stations is 110.
There are five contestants each in fray in Kargil, Leh and Zanskar constituencies and four in Nobra. In Leh district, two constituencies of Nobra and Leh have 80,086 voters. The number of male voters is 42,152 and female voters 37,934. The number of polling stations is 239.
Two constituencies of Kargil and Zanskar— have total electorate of 78,796. Out of them 39,449 are male and 39,347 are female. The number of polling stations is 237.
The polling staff comprising 4,376 along with election material has been positioned in these constituencies. About 438 members of polling staff has been kept as reserve to meet any exigency. In some areas like Gurez and Zanskar, the polling staff was airlifted to respective destinations.
In all, 1,094 polling stations including Auxiliary polling stations have been established in these constituencies. As many as, 361 polling stations are sensitive and 210 hypersensitive. The lowest voters numbering 5 are at polling station Thukjay Gumpa in Leh. Of these, three are male and two female voters and the polling station set up at highest elevation of 14,500 feet is Anley Phu in Leh where 61 voters are registered to cast their votes. Of these, 35 are male and 26 female voters.
As many as, 102 candidates are in the fray for in these constituencies where people will exercise right to vote in the Ist phase. These include three women contestants also. During the Assembly elections 2002, only 40 candidates were in the fray which indicates greater involvement of candidates in poll process this time. Complaint cells have also been set up in the districts to take cognizance of any complaint and initiate follow up action. As many as, ten election Observers have been appointed by the Election Commission of India for these constituencies.
In the constituencies going to polls tomorrow, 233 rallies and public meetings were held during the campaign period. These include 177 in Bandipora, 46 in Poonch, 7 in Kargil and 3 in Leh districts. To ensure free, fair and transparent elections adequate security arrangements have also been made. |
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