12 candidates elected unopposed for Shopian municipality, 2 in Pulwama

The municipal body of southern Kashmir’s powder keg, Shopian district, did not see any polling  as all the 12 contestants who  had filed their candidature were elected uncontested.

For the 17-ward municipal committee Shopian, a total number of 13 nominations, including four women, were received from 10 candidates.

   

“Out of them the nomination papers of one of the candidate  were rejected during the scrutiny while other two candidate had filed their papers for two seats each,” said Owais Ahmad, district election officer.

The 12 elected candidates, all Kashmiri Pandit migrants currently putting up in Jammu, belong to Bharatiya Janata Party.

The municipal committee Shopian for the first time since its inception would have chairman as well as all its members from Pandit community.

Bharatiya Janta Party district president for Shopian Javed Qadri said the party could not find a Muslim candidate due to the prevailing situation. He, however, was quick to add that all the candidates are locals and belong very much to the town.

“You know how the situation is in our district. Things are going downhill with every passing day. Even Congress party which has contested the polls failed to field a candidate,” Qadri said.

The candidates who were elected included Veena Koul, Kuldeep Raina, Rajindra Kumar Bali, Vikas Koul, Rakesh Sharma, Sushma Bali, Ashok Kumar Bali, Beauty Koul,  Rajani Koul and Subash Chandra Koul. 

In Pulwama municipal committee spanning over 13 wards, only two candidates had filed their nominations for two wards namely Pirchoo B (Ward 2) and Sirnoo A

(Ward 5) while 11 wards did not receive any nominations. Both the contestants were elected unopposed.

The district is spread over five municipalities–Pulwama, Khrew, Pampore, Awantipora and Tral– having 69 wards and 42166 votes.

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