56.07% migrants cast vote

Shangus records highest 63.3 %, Khanyar lowest 29.53 %  

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 14: In the fourth and penultimate phase of Assembly elections, over 56 percent Kashmiri Migrant voters cast their vote for sixteen constituencies of Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

Out of total 21, 881 M-Form migrant voters, 12,269 cast their vote at 26 polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi.

Shangus constituency in Anantnag district of south Kashmir witnessed highest poll participation with 63.03 percent, while Khanyar saw lowest participation of KP migrants with just 29.53 percent.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, SK Fotedar (AERO/ARO (M) Delhi told Greater Kashmir that over 40 percent participation was recorded in Delhi, wherein out of total 496 registered M-Form voters, only 202 cast their vote, at four polling stations. He maintained that ‘low voter turnout was because of bad weather.  “Due to bad weather a large number of people preferred not to go out”, he said.

ARO (M) Jammu, Sachin Dev Singh said that Jammu witnessed highest percentage of migrant voter participation with 56.65 percent voters casting their vote. “Out of 20955, 11870 cast their vote at 21 polling stations,” he said.

Similarly, Ranjit Singh ARO(M) Udhampur shared that 45.81 percent KP migrant voter participation was recorded at lone polling booth in Udhampur, wherein out of 430 registered voters, only 197, including 112 males and 85 females, cast their vote.

The authorities had established 114 special polling booths on 21 locations at Jammu, four in Delhi NCR and one at Udhampur to facilitate the migrant voters to cast their vote.

According to election officials, among the 52,898 migrant voters, only 21,881 had filled up the M Forms to cast their vote.

As per the official data, 16 constituencies spread over Central Kashmir district of Srinagar and South Kashmir districts of Anantnag and Shopian had a total number of 52,898 migrant votes, while the M Forms had been filled up by 21,881 migrant voters only, which was much less than half of the total number of voters.

While eight constituencies of Srinagar district including Habbakadal, Amirakadal, Hazratbal, Idgah, Khanyar, Sonawar and Batamallo had a total number of 30,773 migrant voters, the six constituencies of Anantnag district including Anantnag, Dooru, Kokernag, Shangus, Bijbehara and Pahalgam had a total number of 18398 voters.

The two constituencies of Shopian district including Assembly segment of Wachi and Shopian had a total number of 3727 votes.

Habbakadal has highest number of 16,271 migrant voters, which was followed by Bijbehara in Anantang district with 5056 migrant voters. Zadibal Assembly segment in Srinagar has lowest number of 421 migrant votes, followed by Idgah with 723 votes.

Deeming ‘little expectations', many border area voters use 'NOTA’

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 14: A section of voters in border villages of Ramgarh and Chamlyal in the Samba district chose to exercise the newly-introduced 'None Of The Above’ (NOTA) option today saying they have "little expectations" from any of the political parties in the electoral battle.

"This election has given us a unique opportunity to press the NOTA button,” said Sham Singh, who listed number of problems faced by his village in Chamlyal, just three kilometers away from International Border.

Sham added that he had been exercising his vote since 1978, after retiring from Army, but till date he has not found any compassionate leader, who had worked for the development of the area.

Echoing his views, a voter who did not wish to be identified said that the NOTA option should have been introduced long back as the ‘Constitution has guaranteed everyone to exercise their rights’, “I don’t find any legitimate leader here, but still I want to cast my vote in respect of constitution,” he added.

Scores of voters across the village said they exercised the NOTA option to ‘alter’ the nature of political contest. A number of youngsters at Chak Balotrian in Ramgarh said they did not vote for any party and instead pressed the NOTA button.

However, a large number of people in Birpur and Badhori polling stations of the constituency said they were not aware of NOTA.

"No, we are not aware of any such options available to us (voters). I knew only that we had to choose from one of the candidates," said Parul Sharma, a housewife from Vijaypur constituency at a Model Polling Station.

In Karothli pooling booth, first-time voters were unaware of any such options existing for the voters.

Pertinently two constituencies viz Vijaypur and Samba of the district went to polls along with 14 other constituencies of three districts in Kashmir today in the fourth and penultimate phase of the ongoing elections.

SVEEP campaign falls-flat in Border villages

‘First time voters follow elders wish’

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 14: The tall claims of the election commission has fallen flat in the border villages of the Samba district, wherein maximum voters, probably first timers intended to vote as per the wishes of their elders, thus keeping aside much hyped SVEEP campaign of election commission.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, scores of first time voters in the border villages of Vijaypur constituency of the district Samba expressed ignorance about electoral process and said that they will do as their parents and elders tell them to do.

“We are casting votes for the first time and have no idea about the process,” said 21 year old Sunil Kumar of Chak Balotrian, among first time voters. He added that since no administration has approached border villages to aware the people, especially youth about the electoral process, they have to cast votes as per wishes of their elders. “We are not aware about the SVEEP campaign at the first place,” he said.

First time voters at border village Chamlyal expressed similar views and lamented that the district administration claims to hold awareness programmes in the educational institutes, but here in this border village, no such programme has been launched by the election officials.

Baljeet Kaur, another first timer at Chamlyal said that she is neither excited nor nervous, as she had no knowledge about the process and will do as her mother, who accompanied her up to polling booth, wishes.

However, many first timers in Assembly election(s), who had earlier voted in Lok Sabha elections expressed that they will be voting for ‘employment and other livelihood generating scheme(s)’.

“We are voting for the second time, after Lok Sabha elections early this year. Our prime motive to cast vote is to elect such representative who could secure employment schemes for the border village youth,” said Rahul and added that ‘talk of development is now obsolete’ and every second leader promises about it. “We want employment, besides peace in the region, as this region has been marred with decades of   firing and ceasefire violation,” he said.

He added, “This is crucial election and we need to elect our representatives carefully.”

Pertinently, Election Commission had made high claims of sensitizing voters, especially first timers about the process and importance of voting. They have been claiming that to increase polling percentage in the assembly elections electorate conferences, rallies, interactive sessions, door to door campaigns and signature campaigns have been held to motivate people to exercise their franchise under SVEEP.

Defacement of public property goes unabated in Jammu

 

Political posters, hoardings dot region, Election authorities unmoved  

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 13: Defacement of public property by sticking posters and hoardings by Political parties has failed to attract the attention of election authorities in Jammu region despite the practice being a gross violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).

  Even as huge hoardings, posters and flags put up by political parties dot every public area in all major towns the lection authorities have preferred to keep mum over the violations. 

Admitting that the political parties were violating MCC, an elections officer said that using public property including roads, government officers, electric poles, cable wires, parks etc for campaigning amount to violation of the model code of conduct.

He said even sticking of adhesive posters amount to violation of MCC and for this case can be registered under ‘Defacement of property Act’.

A social activist and professor at Gandhi Memorial College, Seema Matoo said that even after the announcement of the poll schedule, the election officials did not ensure immediate removal of such hoardings, banners and flags, which are hanging across the city.

“Even, telephone and electric poles have been used to affix posters and banners,” she said and added that the district administration, which works under the direct command and supervision of the Election Commission, was expected to ensure that the code was strictly followed.

She said that  colourful hoardings, sparkling flexi banners, posters and flags of several aspirants, including Congress, National Conference and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), besides independent candidates dot the city streets, state highways, major roads and other public places.

The defacement of public property is more rampant in Jammu city where   political parties, independent candidates have not spared even electric polls.

 Huge hoardings, flags, buntings and posters with picture or symbol of contesting candidates can be seen on electric poles, compound walls and other noticeable spots along the several kilometers road stretch of the Gandhi Nagar.

Among the violators, Congress stalwart, Raman Bhalla is at the top followed by PDP candidate, Amrik Singh Reen and NC candidate, Surinder Singh Bunty.

An Election officer, wishing anonymity said there are clear instructions not to hang banners and campaigning materials across main roads, official buildings and private property without consent.

“The guidelines clearly say it is violation of MCC to affix the campaigning materials such as banners, posters and party flags on telephone or electricity poles, but still many parties and independent candidates are hanging and pasting flags and posters across the region  ”, official admitted.

When contacted, Assistant Returning Officer, Gandhi Nagar , Avni Lavasa said all the political parties and ticket aspirants have been informed to withdraw their campaigning materials from public property, especially that of PDD and JMC, but ‘they are not complying with the orders’.

“We have initiated steps to pull out the campaigning material of the parties. Since many political parties have not complied with the instructions, we have decided to lodge an FIR against erring parties and candidates,” Lavasa said and added that the flying squads have been instructed to remove flags and banners.

Eight women candidates in fray for fourth phase

Omar to face female power at Sonawar

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 12: Out of total 182 candidates for the 18 constituency seats, as many as eight women candidates have figured to contest for the fourth phase of ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, scheduled for December 14.

As per official data seven female candidates from three districts of Kashmir division are in fray, whereas only one female candidate is contesting elections from lone district of Jammu division in the penultimate phase.

The contest for Sonawar assembly seat would be interesting to see, wherein National Conference (NC) working president and Chief ministerial candidate, Omar Abdullah would be facing female candidates of two arch-rival parties-BJP and Indian National Congress (INC).

While INC has fielded septuagenarian Khem Lata Wakhloo to fight NC working president, BJP has wielded faith in the new entrant and an erstwhile president of the Socialist Democratic Party (SDP) Dr Darakshan Andrabi.

The experienced Khem Lata Wakhloo, who was accorded the status of a Cabinet Minister, could give a tough fight to Omar Abdullah, whereas Dr Andrabi riding on Modi Juggernauts, was on a hectic door-to-door campaign in Sonwar to defeat the Chief Minister, who has picked Sonwar (his father, Farooq Abdullah was an MLA from here in 2008) along with Beerwah to fight this elections  after abandoning the family bastion of Ganderbal.

The other high profile woman candidate from Kashmir includes sitting MLA and NC candidate for Habbakadal, Shamima Firdous, who had won the 2008 assembly elections with a good margin.

Shamima, is the only women candidate out of a total of 11 candidates in fray. The main contest indeed is expected to be between Shamima Firdous, BJP’s Moti Lal Kaul and Sanjay Saraf of Lok Jan Shakti Party.

The Hazratbal constituency, which has remained the hotspot of National Conference, one female contestant Asiea Naqash, sister-in-law of Member Parliament, Tariq Ahmad Karra, is contesting as a PDP candidate out of a total 12 candidates in fray.

Being in relation to MP could bring some hope to Naqash to emerge winner. However, Mohammad Syed Akhoon of NC, who had remained MLA of the same constituency in the 1996, would definitely give some fight to PDP candidate.

Similarly, BJP candidate Hina Shafi Bhat is among the   14 candidates contesting from assembly segment of Amirakadal.

Apart from the fact that she is a new face in politics, Bhat has recently been in media limelight for making a controversial statement on Article 370 that goes against the traditional stand of the party on this sensitive issue.

She could be a good contestant in terms of making news, but here all the eyes will be on the contest between NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani and PDP candidate Mohammad Altaf Bukhari. Pertinently, her father, Muhammad Shafi Bhat was a senior leader of National Conference.

From Zadibal, young candidate of BJP, Neelam Basher Gash is contesting for the first time against 13 candidates. She is believed to give tough fight to Abid Hussain Ansari of PDP, who is also contesting for the first time.

Only independent female candidate in the fourth phase of assembly elections, Mehbooba Shadab is contesting from Batmaloo Assembly constituency along with other 16 candidates.

 The 54 year old Shadab has already contested two parliamentary elections in the past both as a National Conference candidate as well as an Independent candidate, but lost on both occasions.

Intending to make fresh start by contesting again as an Independent candidate, Shadab has not many experienced candidates against her. She along with PDP candidate, Noor Mohammad Sheikh, might take advantage of anti-incumbency wave.

In Jammu division, only one woman candidate, Satwant Kour Dogra is in fray for fourth phase. Dogra is contesting from Samba assembly constituency on NC mandate.  She had quit BJP after losing 2008 elections from Samba on the party ticket.

Average Congress Show in Jammu

8000 empty chairs greet Sonia Gandhi at MAM stadium

P S BALI

Jammu, Dec 10: Empty chairs greeted Congress president, Sonia Gandhi here at MAM stadium, when she arrived to address a campaign rally on Wednesday, apparently reflecting ‘mood of the people in the region’.

Around 7,000 people turned up for the rally, the only one she was addressing in Jammu ahead of last two phases of assembly polls in which around 22 constituencies would to polls  in the region.

 The crowd remained indifferent and it cheered only at intervals during her 20-minute address, when she made some remarks about J&K Congress leaders.

The event was wrapped up in 15-20 minutes, as organizers and party president were probably disappointed with the bare chairs.

According to organizers, the party had ordered around 15, 000 chairs for the event, but could not accumulate that much gathering, as more than 50 percent seats remained unoccupied.

“This was unexpected, as many contesting candidates had promised to bring their lot of supporters for the event, but the total head count was   far less than what was expected,” said a member of organizing committee, wishing anonymity.

He added that only a few hundred supporters each from the   constituencies of Surinder Singh Singhari, Raman Bhalla and Mulla Ram turned up at the venue, while the stalwart candidates from the rural constituencies of Jammu district like Deputy Chief Minister and PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma totally failed to mobilize the crowds , which was disappointing.

Surprisingly, in her 20 minute speech, wherein she urged upon the people to vote for Congress party and reject ‘divisive politics’ of BJP and other parties, she received very dull response.

The people cheered only on few occasions when Sonia Gandhi accentuated contribution of the local leaders and once when she came down the dais to meet the gathering in the rally.

Coalition compulsions did not let Cong to implement many pro-people policies: Sonia

Vows to establish 2 regional development councils

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 10: Congress president, Sonia Gandhi today held  coalition partner National Conference responsible for the state government’s failure in implementing people-friendly programmes in Jammu and Kashmir.

In her maiden election rally in Jammu for ongoing assembly polls, Sonia Gandhi maintained “It was due to coalition compulsions that we could not fulfill the pro-people programmes, including the implementation   of food security bill during the last six years.” She added that Congress always worked for the development of J&K and vowed  to  establish two ‘regional development councils’ in the state, if  her party comes to power in the state.

Emphasizing upon the development of the state, Congress president said that Congress strived for progress of every section of the state. “We have developmental vision towards J&K, besides establishing two regional development councils in the state, Congress will also   focus on the skill development programmes for the youth, respectable settlement of migrants including Kashmiri Pandits and empowerment of women and weaker section of the society,” she added.

Sonia Gandhi claimed that during the tenure of Congress in the state, steps were taken to resolve border issues, besides maintaining communal harmony. “We joined coalition government in the state only to defeat separatist forces that were hell bent to divide the people,” Sonia said and added that despite being in coalition Congress wholeheartedly worked for the betterment of the state.

“Under able leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Congress party initiated several pro-people programmes for the development of the state. We primarily focused on education and health in the state and to certain extent   succeeded to develop it,” she said and added that for the convenience of the people in this mountainous region, her party introduced Train links, besides tunnels for connecting people with rest of the region.

Taking dig at central government for ‘rejecting’ one time settlement proposal of PAK refugees, Sonia said “After working hard to provide permanent solution to the issued of refugees, BJP led government at center rejected it, only to deprive Congress of the credits.”

She cautioned the people of Jammu and Kashmir ‘to beware of BJP, as this party is ‘master in double speak’. “When a person gets entrapped in the magic of their words, he has to repent in the last,” said Sonia, adding “Inki Mitthi-Mitthi Baatoon Se Bachoo” (Be careful of BJPs’ toadying promises”.

Further attacking BJP, she said this party deceives the masses by making hoax promises, as it did in Lok Sabha polls.    

“BJP promised the people of exposing names of account holders having black money stashed in foreign banks, but after coming to power all promises ‘fell-flat’,” she said and added that BJP is now hesitant to disclose even   names of a few people as majority are of their lobby.

 The AICC president also slammed BJP’s silence over the abusive remarks of union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti and said that the party was shielding her despite making such an unparliamentarily statement.   

Claiming that Congress was the only party that worked for the betterment of the people in India and in J&K, she said “We provided a potent tool to people of the state in the shape of Right to Information (RTI), to eradicate corruption from its roots, but BJP led government is hell bent in weakening this tool, only to cover its corporate lobby,” Sonia Gandhi said and urged upon the people to defeat ‘divisive and double speak’ politics by giving vote to Congress.

Earlier, she said that J&K is a land of braves and hard workers and on such a soil, innocent people and security forces are being ‘killed by Pakistan rangers’, whereas central government was tight-lipped.

Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, AICC general secretary Ambika Soni, JKPCC president Saif-ud-Din Soz, PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma and Housing Minister Raman Bhalla were also present.

55.90 % KP migrant voters cast franchise for 3rd phase

PS BALI

Jammu, Dec 9: Over 55 percent Kashmiri Pandit (KP) migrant voters cast their franchise for 16 constituencies of Kashmir in the third phase of assembly polls, here today.

Out of total 8438 M-From migrant voters, 4717 cast their votes at 26 polling stations in Jammu, Udhampur and New Delhi. Rafiabad constituency witnessed highest poll participation with 69. 06 percent while Pattan had lowest participation of KP migrants with just 43.67 percent.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, ARO (M) Jammu, Sachin Dev Singh said that Jammu witnessed highest percentage of migrant participation with 56.42 percent migrant voters cast votes. “Out of 8166, as many as 4607 cast their votes at 21 polling stations,” he said.

Similarly, SK Fotedar (AERO/ARO (M) Delhi told Greater Kashmir that 50 percent participation was recorded in Delhi, wherein out of total 56 registered M Form voters, 28 cast their votes, including 16 male and 12 female voters, at four polling stations.

Ranjit Singh (ARO(M) Udhampur shared that 37.96 percent KP migrant voters participation was witnessed at lone polling booth in Udhampur, wherein out of 216 registered voters, only 82, including 47 males and 35 females cat their vote.

The authorities had established 114 special polling booths on 20 locations at Jammu, four polling booths in Delhi NCR and one polling booth at Udhampur to facilitate the migrant voters to cast their vote.

As per official data, there were 8438 M-Form voters out of 19,575 registered migrant voters in three districts of Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama in Kashmir Valley with Baramulla having highest number of 9629 migrant votes followed by Pulwama which has 6049 migrant votes while the Budgam district has lowest number of 3897 votes.

Out of 16 constituencies Uri Assembly Segment in Baramulla district has lowest number of 333 voters while Khansahib Assembly Segment in Budgam has 602 migrant voters. Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan Assembly segments all in Baramulla district have 837, 1962, 807, 2567, 2513 and 610 respectively.

In Budgam district Chadoora, Budgam, Beerwah and Chrar-i-Sharief has 692, 1012, 699 and 892 migrant voters respectively.

In Pulwama district Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora Assembly segments have 1445, 1041, 1192 and 2371 migrant voters respectively.

It may be recalled due to cumbersome process of electioneering the migrant voters are showing a poor response to fill up their M Forms and Form 12 C.

It is Congress Vs BJP in G-Nagar; Neck-to-neck fight expected

Will Modi wave overdo Bhalla’s development plank

PS Bali

Jammu, Dec 7:

The 71-Gandhi Nagar Constituency of Jammu district is likely to witness exciting fight between arch rivals Congress and BJP in the fifth phase of state assembly elections, whereas other major political parties are also expected to make inroads to dent vote share.

Population wise largest constituency of the state, consisting urban and rural population, is believed to be the stronghold of Congress with party strongman and minister, Raman Bhalla having represented it twice in a row.  

The region was considered as the bastion of Congress leader, Raman Bhalla, who won two consecutive assembly elections and has occupied the seat since 2002. Prior to Bhalla’s entry, BJPs Choudhary Piara Singh has represented it twice.

However despite surcharged atmosphere due to the Amarnath land row, Bhalla retained the seat in 2008.

He defeated BJP’s strongman, Prof Nirmal Singh with a margin of 2263, who this time change his constituency and went back to birth place Billawar.

In 2008, among heavyweight Congress leader and then deputy chief minister Pt Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister Mula Ram, Bhalla was only Congressman, who retain seat in Jammu city and keep the flag of Congress on map.

One of the prominent faces of the party from the Jammu region he was remained minister from last nine year.

However BJP after a long delay  on deciding candidate for Gandhi Nagar finally give mandate to former mayor Kavinder Gupta, who had served for three terms as mayor and enjoys popularity among Jammuites.

However many local BJP leaders expressed disagreement with high commands decision as Gupta belongs to Jammu West Constituency and considered as ‘outsider’ in Gandhi Nagar segment, the issue which  the opponents were likely  to use to lure voters.

As per political experts, Raman Bhalla is locked in a direct contest with BJP candidate Kavinder Gupta.

Political experts believe that Kavinder may remain at receiving end because of being outsider and has to put extra efforts to make place in the hearts of the people of the constituency to replace incumbent Congress leader.

But riding on the juggernauts of the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who is expected to hold election campaign rally in Jammu, Kavinder might give tough fight to Congress star, Raman Bhalla.

If political experts are to be believed, Raman Bhalla would be in tight condition due to recurrent allegations of using substandard material in the developmental    works to ‘embezzle funds’.

He has been also criticized for giving less importance to interiors of the constituency.

However, political experts assume that only ‘Modi wave’ is standing between Raman Bhalla and victory.

They said that if the Prime Minister holds a rally in Jammu, it will reverse the fortunes.

Kavinder is also hoping that people will vote the same way they have voted in the parliamentary elections this year.

While other parties, including ruling National Conference and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had given mandate to Sikh candidates to garner much support from Sikh belt of Nanak Nagar, Digiana  and Preet Nagar.

Though, candidates of these political parties are putting in concerted  efforts to contest Congress and BJP by reaching voters and seeking support on the basis of religion, experts say that besides religious card, these regional parties have nothing to offer.

Out of the 87 Assembly constituencies, the Gandhi Nagar segment has distinction to have largest population with 172 polling stations.

166132 electorates, including 85824 males and 80308 females will decide fate of 11 candidates in fray from Gandhi Nagar constituency, on December 20- the polling day for the last phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.