Srinagar: Counting of votes for the 87 Assembly seats in Jammu & Kashmir will take place on Tuesday. The polling that took place over an elaborate five phased elections witnessed remarkable voter turnout with the fifth phase recording 76 per cent voter turnout.
The contest in Jammu & Kashmir has become very interesting with the Bharatiya Janata Party trying to challenge traditional players in the Valley where it has no MLA in the present Assembly. While the National Conference is on the back foot due to anti-incumbency and recent floods, PDP is taking all steps possible to cease power again. Here is a list of important candidates:
Omar Abdullah: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is fighting anti-incumbency sentiments against his National Conference government, has ditched his traditional Ganderbal seat. He is contesting from Beerwah constituency in Budgam and Sonwar Assembly seat in Srinagar.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed: PDP's chief ministerial candidate Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is seeking re-election from Anantnag constituency in South Kashmir. NC has fielded little known Iftikhar Hussain Misger against Mufti, while Congress will be banking on Hilal Shah.
Tara Chand: Deputy Chief Minister and Congress candidate Tara Chand, who won the Chhamb seat in Jammu in 1996, 2002 and 2008 is fighting to retain the seat this time again.
Sajjad Lone: The former separatist leader is contesting his maiden elections from Handwara constituency. He is up against National Conference candidate Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan who is a four-time MLA.
Dr Hina Bhat: Bhartiya Janata Party's (BJP)'s face in the Valley, Dr Hina Bhat is contesting from Amira Kadal constituency of Srinagar. She is a stiff contest with NC leader and sitting MLA Nasir Aslam Wani. PDP's Altaf Bukhari is also trying his luck from the constituency.
Usman Abdul Majeed: The Congress leader is contesting from Bandipore constituency. Congress had not contested from the seat in the 2008 elections.
Qazi Mohammad Afzal: The PDP leader is contesting from Ganderbal which has been a stronghold of the Abdullahs. The constituency is likely to see a triangular contest with Afzal up against NC's Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar and Sheikh Ghulam Ahmad Saloori, who is contesting as an Independent.
Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami: The Jammmu & Kashmir Secretary of CPI(M) is trying his luck again from Kulgam Assembly constituency. He won his first election from Kulgam in 1996 and is seeking a fourth consecutive term.
Pawan Khajuria: The BJP nominee is contesting against two times National Panthers Party (NPP) MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia. BJP has been hit by rebellion in the constituency, where its former leader Pawan Gupta has decided to contest as an independent candidate.
Ali Muhammad Sagar: NC leader Ali Muhammad Sagar, who is also a minister in the J&K government, is looking forward to a fourth consecutive term from Khanyar constituency. He is up against PDP's Mohahamad Khursheed Alam, a former trade union leader.
Mohammad Syed Akhoon: In Hazratbal, NC leader Mohammad Syed Akhoon is up against PDP's lone woman candidate Asiea Naqash. National Conference did not field sitting MLA and Omar's uncle Sheikh Mustafa Kamal from this seat and instead gave mandate to Akhoon who has represented the constituency in 1996 and 2002.
Taj Mohiuddin: Senior Congress leader and Minister for Health Taj Mohiuddin is seeking his third consecutive term from Uri constituency. It is expected to be a tight contest between him and NC's Mohahamad Shafi, as the latter has been runner-up twice.
Abdul Rahim Rather: Finance Minister and NC's Abdul Rahim Rather is seeking re-election for the seventh time from Chrar-e-Sharief constituency in Budgam district. PDP's Ghulam Nabi Lone is challenging the veteran MLA.
Ghulam Hassan Mir: Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party Nationalist (JKDPN) leader and Agriculture Minister in J&K government Ghulam Hassan Mir is seeking third from Gulmarg Assembly seat.
Syed Bashiruddin: Syed Bashiruddin is the sitting MLA of Rajpora constituency in Pulwama. He is contesting these elections as an Independent after he was denied ticket by PDP.
Ghulam Ahmad Mir: Congress leader and Tourism Minister in J&K government, Ghulam Ahmad Mir is seeking third consecutive term from Doru Assembly constituency in Anantnag district. NC's Farooq Ahmad Ganai and PDP's Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi are up against Mir.
Peerzada Mohammad Syed: Congress leader and a minister in J&K government, Peerzada Mohahamad Syed is seeking fourth term from Kokernag Assembly constituency in Anantnag district.
Showkat Hussain Ganie: Ruling NC has fielded Showkat Hussain Ganie in Wachi constituency, earlier held by PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. Mehbooba won the Lok Sabha election from Anantnag and vacated Wachi Assembly constituency. PDP, meanwhile, has planted late National Conference MLA Abdul Jabbar Mir's son Aijaz Ahmad Mir in the constituency.
Comments
0 comment