Filing of nominations for the first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir started to pick up speed as 14 candidates filed for their nomination papers ahead of the August 27 deadline.
The candidates have until August 30 to withdraw their nominations. The election in the Union Territory will be held in three phases: September 18, 25 and October 3.
The counting of votes will be held on October 4. This is the first election in the UT in a decade.
This phase of the election covers 24 constituencies, with 16 located in the Kashmir Valley and the rest in the Jammu region.
The constituencies include Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, Damhal Hanjipora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, and Pahalgam. In the Jammu region, the assembly segments that will go to polls are Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhaderwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.
Among the prominent leaders competing in the first phase are Sakeena Itoo from the National Conference (NC) and Abdul Majeed Paddar from the Apni Party (AP). They will be vying for Damhal Hanjipora. Similarly, Nazir Ahmad Laway from the Peoples Conference (PC) is running for the Kulgam constituency, while Muhammad Sartaj Madni from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is contesting in Devsar.
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Senior PDP leader Mehboob Beg has also filed his nomination for the Anantnag constituency.
In Pulwama district, the Pampore constituency is set for a contest between Mir Altaf Ahmad of the Apni Party (AP) and independent candidate Asif Nabi Dar. Shopian district will see independent candidate Suhail Ahmad Mir competing for the Shopian seat.
In Doda district, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy of the NC is up against Tanvir Hussain of the All Alliance Democratic Party (AADP) for the Doda assembly seat. In Bhaderwah, Ashok Kumar Kachroo of AADP and independent candidate Rajinder Nath Razdan have also entered the race.
In Ramban district, the Banihal seat will witness a contest between PDP’s Imtiyaz Ahmad Shah and independent candidate Suteesh Kumar, who has filed his nomination for the Ramban constituency. The constituency has strong support for both the NC and the Congress and the two parties, despite having formed a pre-poll alliance, have not reached an agreement on the seat.
