BATTLEGROUND UDHAMPUR | 12 candidates in electoral fray

Jammu, April 18:  Those in electoral fray in the Udhampur-Doda constituency include BJP candidate Dr Jitendra Singh; Congress candidate Chowdhary Lal Singh; Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) candidate G M Saroori, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate Amit Kumar; Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP)-Bhim candidate Balwan Singh; Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal candidate Manoj Kumar; independent candidates Dr Pankaj Sharma, Rajesh Manchanda, Sachin Gupta, Swaran Veer Singh Jaral, Mohammad Ali Gujjar and Mehraj Din.

MAJOR ELECTORAL ISSUES

Pros and cons of Article 370 abrogation formed the core of election issues.

BJP mainly relied on development initiatives post Art 370 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Opposition focussed on unemployment, inflation besides accusing BJP of depriving J&K of its identity, statehood and its citizens of their exclusive rights to jobs and lands by repealing Article 370 and 35-A.

Restoration of statehood and delayed assembly election too were raked up as major issues by BJP’s opponents.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT CONSTITUENCY

Congress won 10 times from this constituency; BJP scored victory for five times since 1957

Previous trends suggest that over 40 percent of the Rajput population among Hindus, generally holds sway. Rajput candidates scored victory eight times from this constituency

Main contestants Dr Jitendra Singh of BJP and Chowdhary Lal Singh of Congress reclaiming this seat for third time while G M Saroori of DPAP is fighting to gain maiden entry in Parliament

No woman candidate ever won from this constituency.