Early Times Report
Jammu, Sept 12: Even as the J&K Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has reserved some seats for candidates from categories for the upcoming Urban Local Body polls, the same may shatter dreams of at least three politicians from Kashmir hoping to become the Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation in the new elections.
Sources said the ward represented by a prominent leader of the Apni Party who holds a key position in the SMC is likely to lose the same if the reservation as proposed by the CEO is upheld.
Likewise a former Mayor from the National Conference may also lose his ward. Another aspirant for the chair of Mayor who has remained a Deputy Mayor in the past may also lose his hopes of becoming the Mayor as they wont be able to contest from his ward.
Whereas all the three persons are believed to be probable candidates for Mayorship, it all depends on the final decision on the reservations.
The sources said the parties would be trying their best to convince the CEO to change the decision on reservation as otherwise it would affect their electoral prospects in their respective wards.
With the CEO having issued notification for the reservation of wards for women, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (ST), the development has left such faces unnerved.
“This is a matter of their career and hence the parties will plead the case tooth and nail,” said an observer.
The CEO has sought objections to the development on reservations.
“Any objections or suggestions should reach the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Nirvachan Bhawan Rail Head Complex, Jammu, or Darul Intikhab, M A Road, Srinagar, within 5 days from the issuance of this notice, i.e., September 9, 2023, after which no objections or suggestions shall be entertained,” read the notice issued J&K CEO Pandurang K Pole.
The date was subsequently extended giving the stakeholders more time to plead their case if any. |
