74 people file papers for Rajouri Assembly seats

Jammu, Nov 5 (UNI) A total 74 people have filed their nomination papers for four Assembly constituencies of western Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir which goes for election in Phase-II on November 23, official spokesman today said.

Accompanied by large number of supporters, majority of candidates for Rajouri Assembly constituencies -- Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote -- filed their nominations papers on the last day today, the spokesman informed.

While 14 people have filed nomination papers for Nowshera constituency, 15 filed for Darhal, 29 for Rajouri and 16 for Kalakote.

Scrutiny of nominations papers will be done tomorrow while the last date of withdrawal of candidature is November 8.

A total 3,53,457 voters, including 1,70,928 women, will decide the fate of candidates contesting for four seats of the bordering district.

There would be 388 polling stations in the district, as compared to 337 set up in 2002.

Romesh Chander of Congress was elected from Nowshera in 2002 elections when he defeated his National Conference rival Radhay Sham Sharma by a margin of 4,474 votes.

Puran Singh, who had defeated his NC rival Choudhary Liaqat Ali by a margin of 217 votes in 2002 as independent candidate, has filed nomination for Darhal Assembly seat on Congress ticket.

From Rajouri Assembly segment, Mohammad Aslam of NC had defeated his nearest Congress rival Qamar Hussain by a margin of 2,678 votes in 2002 while Rachpal Singh of NC had won Kalakote seat by defeating his Congress rival Ashok Kumar Sharma by a margin of 1,200 votes.

Besides these four Rajouri seats, two assembly constituencies of Kangan and Ganderbal (Ganderbal district) in Kashmir valley will also be going to polls in the Phase II.

UNI VJ RJ HS1714