As the process for upcoming general elections picks up pace, two candidates have filed their nomination papers for Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency and nine other aspirants collected forms for Kathua-Udhampur-Doda seat.
Officials said that on third day after the notification wasissued for Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency, scheduled for polling infirst phase on April 11, two candidates submitted their papers.
“Refugee leader and SOS International chairman Rajiv Chunisubmitted nominations papers as independent candidate while Sayed Aqib Shahfiled nomination as candidate of Independent Peoples Party,” an official said,adding 35 candidates and their representatives contesting from the Jammu-Poonchseat collected nomination forms.
March 25 is the last date for submitting forms for the firstphase.
For Kathua-Udhampur-Doda parliamentary constituency, whichwill go for polling in second phase on April 18, no candidate filed theirpapers on the second day.
Officials however added that nine candidates and theirrepresentatives contesting from the Udhampur seat collected nomination forms.The last date for filing nominations is March 26.
According to electionofficials, March 21 will be a holiday on account of Holi and March 24 isSunday, as such the candidates have March 22, 23, 25 and 26 to filenominations.
Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party has decided tofield candidates for all the six constituencies in the state, but has notdeclared its candidates for Jammu and Udhampur.
“Panthers Party was subjected to tremendous amount ofpressure from different quarters from Delhi and Srinagar to keep away fromParliamentary elections but party will contest all six seats,” said JKNPPpatron Professor Bhim Singh, adding the party would declare its candidates onMarch 23, its foundation day.
On Wednesday, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced itscandidates for two seats of Jammu province.
BSP gave mandate to senior party worker and former chiefengineer Tilak Raj Bhagat from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituencywhile Badrinath will contest from Jammu-Poonch seat, state president of theparty Som Raj Majotra said at a press conference here.
Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan is mulling to field formerminister Lal Singh from both seats.However, no major political party has yetformally declared candidates for either of the two seats in Jammu province.Major parties are likely to delay declaration of candidates, which in turn maycause a rush in the filing of nominations in the last two days.