24 constituencies of Jammu go to polls today

Jammu, Sep 30: In one of the most keenly-fought and watched J&K assembly elections, twenty-four constituencies of Jammu region, spread in four districts, will go to polls in the third and final phase tomorrow.

Though the entire electoral exercise for J&K Legislative Assembly, being conducted after a gap of ten years, in the changed circumstances, is creating ripples across the political-scape of not just India but even outside it yet the third phase of elections has emerged as the most engrossing one.

How crucial this phase is – has already been demonstrated by the political blitzkrieg in its electioneering marked by high-powered performance by the topmost campaigners of all the political parties – national as well as regional parties.

Another intriguing aspect is that this phase is going to decide the fate of over two dozen former ministers, including two Deputy Chief Ministers, across J&K, 17 in Jammu region only, besides a number of ex-legislators in both the divisions.

In Kashmir, these big-wigs including former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig, ex-ministers Syed Basharat Bukhari, Imran Ansari, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Sajad Lone, Taj Mohiuddin, Chowdhary Ramzan are also locked in intriguingly pitched battles. However, their Jammu counterparts are hogging more limelight as they are engaged in a “clash of Titans” i.e., direct contest between two national parties and traditional rivals – Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

In the assembly elections conducted ten years ago in 2014, BJP, riding on ‘Modi wave’, had won 25 seats across Jammu division. So far, it has been its best-ever performance in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir.

In all, during 2014 assembly elections, PDP had bagged 28 while National Conference and Congress had got (15) and (12) seats respectively across J&K.

BJP in 2014 had bagged 18 seats, out of its total tally of 25, from four districts of Jammu (9 out of 11), Samba (both 2 seats), Kathua (all 5 seats) and Udhampur (2 out of 3). Congress, PDP could not open their account in these districts while NC, stunning BJP, had captured two seats in Jammu district. One seat from Udhampur had been won by an independent.

Since then, much water has flown down Tawi and last ten years have seen ambitious BJP setting its eyes to expand its reach even in uncharted spaces, much to the discomfort of its bête-noire (Congress) as well as other mainstream regional parties, with whom it (BJP) shared power as well.

To be precise, now this electoral fight has been a battle for Congress-National Conference combine to “reclaim lost space to capture power” and for BJP to “better its performance to realise its dream to be in power on its own” in J&K.

On the whole, Congress is contesting on 19 seats and its alliance partner National Conference in five assembly segments. However in all 24 constituencies, their major opponent is BJP.

In this phase, 109 candidates are in fray in Jammu district which has eleven assembly segments. The district has 12,009,77 electors, including 6,19,066 males, 5,81,887 females and 24 transgender voters.

In Jammu district, 9 candidates are in fray in Bishnah (SC); 11 in Suchetgarh (SC); 14 in R S Pura–Jammu South; 12 in Bahu; 9 in Jammu East; 8 in Nagrota; 12 in Jammu West; 17 in Jammu North; 6 in Marh (SC); 3 in Akhnoor (SC) while 8 candidates are contesting in Chhamb.

In Jammu district, key constituencies which are capturing major attention included R S Pura- Jammu South, where former minister Raman Bhalla is pitted against BJP’s first-timer Narinder Singh Raina and Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s Chowdhary Gharu Ram.

In Jammu North, two former ministers Sham Sharma of BJP and National Conference’s Ajay Sadhotra are locking horns.

Jammu East is having a direct contest between former minister and Congress candidate Yogesh Sawhney and Yudhvir Sethi of BJP.

Another interesting contest will be witnessed in Nagrota assembly segment where BJP’s Devender Singh Rana is fighting to retain his seat. Opposite him are both Congress and NC candidates engaged in a friendly contest.

Chhamb constituency is also witnessing a high-profile contest with former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand engaged in a pitched battle with BJP’s Rajeev Sharma, a former legislator. Both Congress and BJP have strong rebels also in fray in this constituency.

In all, 37 candidates are in fray in Udhampur district, divided into four assembly constituencies, with a total of 4,22,802 voters, including 2,21,457 male and 2,01,345 female voters. Out of 37, 12 candidates are in fray in Udhampur West; 9 in Udhampur East; 9 in Chenani and 7 in Ramnagar (SC).

Here, all eyes are glued to two constituencies i.e., Udhampur East and Chenani. Udhampur East is witnessing BJP (R S pathania) versus BJP (rebel Pawan Khajuria) contest, though NC candidate Sunil Verma is also in fray.

In Chenani, two former colleagues viz., former minister Harsh Dev Singh as Panthers Party candidate, being supported by Congress and NC, is locking horns with Balwant Singh Mankotia of BJP.

In Kathua district, which has a total of 5,06,679 voters, including 2,65,420 males, 2,41,256 females and 3 transgender voters across its six assembly constituencies, there are 35 candidates in fray. Out of them, 8 are contesting in Bani; 4 in Billawar; 4 in Basohli; 8 in Jasrota; 5 in Kathua (SC) and 6 Hiranagar.

Here Basohli, from where former minister Chowdhary Lal Singh as Congress candidate is contesting against Darshan Singh of BJP and Billawar, where former minister and Congress candidate Dr Manohar Lal Sharma is fighting against BJP candidate Satish Sharma are being considered as constituencies witnessing high-profile contests.

32 candidates are contesting in Samba district, which comprises three assembly constituencies, with 2,60,999 registered voters, including 1,33,736 male, 1,27,261 female and 2 transgender voters.

Out of 32, 7 candidates are in fray in Ramgarh (SC); 14 in Samba and 11 in Vijaypur.

Here in Vijaypur, former minister Chander Prakash Ganga as BJP candidate is pitted against another former minister Manjit Singh of DPAP and NC’s Rajesh Pargotra. In the neighbouring constituency, former minister Surjit Singh Slathia is in fray from Samba against Congress candidate Krishan Dev Singh.

Another interesting contest is in Ramgarh where two former ministers viz., Devender Kumar Manyal of BJP and Yashpal Kundal of Congress are pitted against each other.