Battle lines drawn for Ist phase, last date of withdrawal ends

Srinagar, Nov 4 (UNI) The battle lines are drawn for the first phase of polls on November 17 in the ten assembly constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir where 102 candidates are in the fray after the last date of withdrawal ended yesterday afternoon.

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had announced seven-phase polls in the border state to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling in view of the threat perception and poll boycott call by the separatists.

Although no complete official information was available about total number of candidates left in the fray after the last date of withdrawal ended yesterday, official sources, however, said 27 candidates have withdrawan from the contest, leaving 102 candidates in the fray in ten assembly segments.

The assembly segments going to polls in the first phase included Bandipora, Gurez and Sonawari in north Kashmir, Leh, Kargil, Nobra and Zanaskar in Ladakh region, Poonch Haveli, Mendhar and Surankote in Poonch district of Jammu region.

The highest number of 13 candidates withdrew their nominations from four assembly segments in Ladakh region while eleven from three seats in Poonch district. Three candidates have withdrawan their papers from Sonawari.

Almost all national and regional political parties have fielded their candidates from these seats, notification for which was issued by Governor N N Vohra on October 24.

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