256 candidates, including 10 women in fray in 4th phase of polls

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) Battle lines were drawn in the 18 assembly constituencies, spread over four districts, where 256 candidates, including ten women and highest number of 82 independents, are seeking mandate.

Polling in these constituencies--Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan in Baramulla district, Chadoora, Budgam, Beerwah, Khan Sahib and Charar-i-Sharief in Budgam district in Kashmir valley, Gulabgarh, Reasi and Gool-Arnas in Reasi district and Udhampur, Chenani and Ramnagar in Udhampur district in Jammu region would be held on December 7.

Highest number of five women are contesting from Baramulla district followed by three from Reasi and two from Badgam districts There was however, no woman contestant in Udhampur district.

While three women contested in the first phase, another two were in fray in the second phase. As many as five women will contest in the third phase in Kupwara district for which polling will be held on November 30.

The women, who are contesting from Baramulla district include Haleema Bano of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uri assembly segment, Raja Begum of National Panthers Party (NPP) and Shakeela Bano, independent, from Baramulla, Rafiqa Bano of the Awami National Conference (ANC) from Pattan and Irshada Akhtar, independent, from Gulmarg.

Similarly, in Reasi district, Mumtaz Kouser of the PDP will contest from Gulabgarh Assembly constituency, Meenakshi Sharma, independent, from Reasi and Shamshad Bano of the PDP from Gool-Arnas assembly constituency.

In Budgam district, Parveena Akhtar Bhat of the NPP will contest from Khan Sahib, while Aisha Parveen is an independent candidate from Beerwah.

There are 82 independent contestants, the highest number so far in the ongoing Assembly elections.

Among them, the highest number of 35 independents are contesting in Baramulla district, while 18 are in fray in Budgam district. In Jammu division's Udhampur district, 15 independents are contesting while 14 are in fray in Reasi district. Constituency-wise, Sopore in Baramulla district has the highest number of 13 independents in fray out of the total of 24 contestants.

UNI BAS ASM LPB AS1700