EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Dec 1: Election Commission of India has directed all the candidates not to take more than five persons inside the office of the returning officer while filling the nomination papers. Apart from this, only three vehicles will be allowed inside the 100 meter periphery of the returning officers.
A state election official told Press Bureau of India that all the political parties and independent candidates have been informed about the new guidelines and "it is mandatory on all political parties to adhere the guidelines in letter and spirit."
There are still two days left for the filling of nomination papers for the constituencies going for ballots in the seventh phase.
The constituencies, including the Hazratbal, Zadibal, Idgah, Khanyar, Habba Kadal, Amira Kadal, Sonawar and Batamaloo in Srinagar district, Samba and Vijaypur in Samba district, Nagrota, Gandhinagar, Jammu East, Jammu West, Bishnah, R S Pura, Marh, Suchetgarh, Raipur Domama, Akhnoor and Chhamb in Jammu district will go to polls on December 24.
According to PBI, the direction comes in view of the large number of vehicles accompanying the candidates making it difficult for the security agencies to maintain law and order situation in the state. Recently, a group of pro-freedom youth pelted stones at the cavalcades of several politicians including PDP president Mehbooba Mufti while they were filling nomination papers.
The candidates and leaders whose cars were stoned were Mehbooba Mufti, Abdul Gani Dar, Ghulam Mohiudin Mir, Abdul Qayoom Mir, Farooq Ahmad Jan, Ghulam Nabi Ratanpori, Muhammad Maqbool Bhat, and Mir Zahoor Ahmad. |
