Nomination process for first phase of J&K assembly polls begins
24 seats in south Kashmir and Chenab Valley to go to polls in 1st phase
Srinagar: The nomination process for 24 assembly constituencies, where polling will be held in the first phase of Jammu & Kashmir assembly polls on September 18, will begin on Tuesday.
The poll body will issue the notification for 24 assembly seats which will go to polls in the Union Territory’s first election.
The voting for these seats spread over seven districts, including four in south Kashmir and three in Chenab Valley- would take place on September 18.
The notification would be issued for four seats of Pulwama district, two seats of Shopian, three seats of Kulgam, seven seats of Anantnag, three seats of Doda, three seats of Kishtwar and two seats of Ramban district.
As per schedule announced by the ECI, candidates can file nomination papers for these seats till August 27 while scrutiny of nominations will be done on August 28.
The poll body has fixed August 30 as the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
Meanwhile, all the eights seats of Chenab valley will be covered under the first phase but so far probable candidates for these constituencies have not been announced.
Sources said that leaders of different political parties are camping either in Jammu or in Srinagar to get mandates to contest the elections.
The leaders of two major political parties, Congress and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) are busy in persuading their leadership of giving them the mandate to contest the elections from their own choice of seat.
Notably, the notification for the first phase will be issued on August 20 and the last date of filing nomination will be on August 27. The scrutiny of papers will be done on August 28 and the last date of withdrawal of nomination will be on August 30.
Even as only one day is left to start the election process, no party so far has announced mandates to their candidates which has led to confusion among probable candidates as well as their supporters.
“We are waiting for the newly appointed Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra to reach Jammu and present our case to get the mandate. We are hopeful to get the party ticket to contest as we have remained loyal throughout these years when many leaders deserted the party,” said a senior Congress leader from Chenab valley, who alongwith a probable candidate is camping in Jammu.
Similarly, BJP leaders are also waiting for the party high command to take the decision and get the mandate to contest from their own choice of constituency.
Another reason for delay in announcing tickets to candidates is being attributed to the chances of forging an alliance with different political parties. Karra, in a statement issued in Srinagar, made it clear that Congress party is open to forge alliance with like-minded parties and this could also be one of the reasons.
BJP on the other hand is going for polls alone and the ruling party is expected to field candidates from all 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir which will be a landmark step for the saffron party who once was considered untouchable in Kashmir valley but has managed to spread its roots. (KNO)
