Amid unprecedented security arrangements, the Baramulla-Kupwara and Jammu-Poonch parliamentary segments will go to polls on Thursday in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, J&K’s chief electoral officerShailendra Kumar said all arrangements have been made to ensure “free and fair”polls.
He said 33,17,882 persons are eligible to exercise theirright to franchise in the two parliamentary segments.
“Of these, 13,12,148 voters are in Baramulla segment and20,05,734 in Jammu-Poonch segment,” he said.
4489 polling stations have been set up to facilitateelectorate to cast their votes, he said.
“We have set up 1749 polling booths in Baramulla segment and2740 in Jammu-Poonch segment,” he said.
He said nine candidates are in fray for the Baramulla seatand 24 for the Jammu-Poonch seat.
According to observers, the Baramulla parliamentary segmentwould witness a triangular contest between the National Conference, PeoplesConference and the Peoples Democratic Party.
While the National Conference candidate Muhammad Akbar Loneis banking on the party cadre in northern Kashmir, the PC nominee Raja AijazAli is pinning hopes on the party’s loyal votebank and new entrants like ImranReza Ansari, Abdul Gani Vakil and others.
The National Conference has significant presence in theregion spread over 15 Assembly segments.
The PDP candidate Abdul Qayoom Wani will be banking on votesfrom Tangmarg, Lolab, Kupwara, Bandipora and Baramulla assembly segments. ThePDP’s vote bank has significantly reduced in the region after the exit of itsleaders from there. Adding to their worries, the supporters of PDP’s rebel MLCYasir Reshi, who had secured 32000 votes in the 2014 election, are openlycampaigning for PC in Sonawari assembly segment in Bandipora.
The entry of former MLA Langate, engineer Rashid, in thefray has added spice to the contest. Rashid has been able to attract impressivecrowds during his rallies in different parts of northern Kashmir.
According to observers, the Jammu parliamentary segment willwitness a direct contest between BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma and Congressnominee Raman Bhalla.
Lal Singh of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan and Bhim Singh ofthe Panthers Party are other prominent political figures contesting the polls.
Interestingly, both NC and PDP, which have significantpresence Pir Panchal region, are supporting the Congress nominee.
The Jammu-Poonch seat is the state’s largest parliamentaryconstituency, with an electorate size of over 20 lakh.
A total of 24 candidates are in the fray here, includingsitting Jugal Sharma, Bhalla, Panther Party candidate Prof Bhim Singh andtwo-time MP and former minister Choudhary Lal Singh. The Lok Sabha constituencyis set to witness a tough fight between BJP and Congress-NC joint candidate,while Lal Singh has potential to split the votes.
The constituency is spread over 20 assembly segments of fourdistricts including Jammu, Samba, Poonch and Rajouri.
To ensure incident-free and fair polls, the electioncommission has deployed an estimated 20,000 security personnel to guard 2740polling stations spread across four districts of Jammu province.
According to official sources, “over 100 CRPF companies,more than 5000 state policemen and BSF personnel would stand guard in the firstphase of polling”.
The polling parties were dispatched along with necessaryelection material and EVM machines under tight security arrangements fromdifferent district headquarters.
“A contingency plan is in place to shift polling stations tosafer locations if there is any violation of ceasefire on the IB and the LoC onthe day of polling,” said a senior poll official.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Rajnath Singh,BJP’s national president Amit Shah and its general secretary Ram Madhavaddressed election rallies in Jammu and Udhampur constituencies.
On the other hand, former J&K chief minister andCongress party’s in-charge for election campaign, Ghulam Nabi Azad, took commandof campaigning in the state and addressed series of rallies in Rajouri, Poonch,Jammu and Samba districts.
Devender Singh Rana, the provincial president of National Conference along with other senior leaders also campaigned for the Congress candidate as per the seat-sharing arrangement between the NC and Congress.
Yogesh Sagotra