A R Rather, Taj Mohiuddin, Mir in danger zone Brisk polling in most areas, boycott at some places, violence mark polling KT NEWS SERVICE BUDGAM, BARAMULLA, PULWAMA: The third phase of assembly elections in Kashmir today witnessed heavy to moderate polling in most areas, boycott at some places and violence in couple of areas. As per the polling trends the big names in politics like Abdul Rahim Rather, Taj Mohi-u-Din, Ghulam Hassan Mir and Hakim Mohammad Yasin are not in a comfortable position this time. Even chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is contesting from Beerwah against Congress candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan is not comfortable. At the party level it seems PDP like the first two phases has consolidated its position further in third phase also even as is faced some kind of resistence at Pampore and Tral from National Conference. However, despite the resistence, PDP is said to be having an edge there also. As per the trends PDP is comfortably placed to a greater extent at Charar-e-Sharief, Rajporora, Pulwama, Pattan, Sangrama, Baramulla, Khan Sahib and Gulmarg. Congress has an edge in Sopore. There is tough competition in Uri with NC having an edge. The impact of election boycott call given by separatists was visible in Sopore town, old town of Baramulla, Palhalanin Pattan and rural areas of Tral. Low turnout was also witnessed in Pulwama town but the poll percentage improved since last Lok Sabha polls when the town had observed total boycott. Even in Pampore town people were seen today coming out at some places to cast their votes. In the heavy to moderate polling areas long quesues of voters could be seen at the polling stations despite the cold. They included men, women and elderly persons also. Chahrar-e-Sharief witnessed heavy voting in town as well as rural areas giving PDP a big advantage. Thirteen thousand votes of Charar-e-Sharief town including that of the two neighbouring villages Rakhkai and Batapora play an important role in the overall verdict. Huge chunk of votes went into the kitty of PDP. At Pakharpora out of 2326 votes 1571 votes were cast till afternoon. Likewise at Nagabal 700 out of 850 votes were polled. “Charar-e-Sharief wants a change this time and the change is inevitable with the victory of Ghulam Nabi Lone, PDP, candidate,”said Mohammad Ilyas, a voter. Even at Badipora, the ancestral area of National Conference candidate Abdul Rahim Rather, the PDP candidate Ghulam Nabi Lone is said have taken a half of the share of polled votes. However, in Tisal area NC got good number of votes. Unlike all previous Lok Sabha and assembly polls, Pampore township recorded some kind of poll percentage today. In town the NC candidate got more votes like that of his ancestral area - Khrew. “National Conference candidate Yawar Masoodi is a good choice and we hope that he wins,”said Naveed Ahmad, a voter. PDP got an edge due to good turnout of voters in rural areas including Kakapora and villages near Awantipora. In Sambora, the people like past boycotted the polls this time also In Tral township unlike last Lok Sabha and assembly polls good poll percentage was witnessed this time. However, the rural areas witnessed very low turnout of vote, which can go to the disadvantage of the PDP candidate, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah. NC has fielded Mohammad Ashraf Bhat, son of its ex-MLA Mohammad Subhan Bhat there. The rural Tral belt is militancy infested area. Threatening posters asking people not to vote had appeared in the villages some days back. Pulwama town witnessed low turnout of voters but was slightly better than last Lok Sabha polls when a complete boycott was observed there. Heavy polling was witnessed at Ratnipora, Pahu, Lajoora, Pusil. In the main town at a polling booth in Prichoo 106 votes out of 879 were cast. Similarly, at another polling booth 111 votes out of 518 votes were polled. At Dangerpora polling booth 217 votes out of 783 voted were polled. PDP is said to be having an edge.” Omar Abdullah government discriminated against the areas, which were represented by PDP MLAs. We have a new era of development in PDP rule,” said Fayaz Ahmad, a voter. Rajpora witnessed heavy polling. Long queues of voters can be seen at Muran, Rahmoo, Drabgaam, Main Rajpoora town, Sangaerwani, Nilora, Tahab, Naipora. PDP is said to be having an edge there. The main contest is between PDP candidate Dr Haseeb Drabu and NC candidate, Ghulam Mohi-u-Din, Mir. Ex-MLA. Voting in favour of an independent candidate Ghulam Nabi Niloora, an Ex- NC leader, has gone to the disadvantage of the NC. Baramulla town witnessed boycott to low turnout of votes. However some voting was recorded at Khanpora,which went into favour of Congress candidate Salman Soz and PDP candidate Javid Beig, Clashes continued throughout the day in old town of Baramulla. The clashes sharted at 8.30 AM and continued till 4 PM during which police lobbed smoke shells and resorted to lathi charge. The protestors pelted stones on cops. Four polling stations were set up at the office building of handicrafts. Only four votes were cast in those polling stations-zero in one polling station, two in second and one each in other two. Due to the clashes the polling was stopped there around 3 PM and the polling staff was shifted under tight security cover. The other 14 polling stations of Old town Baramulla which were shifted to New Town Baramulla also recorded very low turnout of voters. Fifteen votes were cast at Kanlibagh and 16 at Dewanbagh. However massive polling was witnessed at in the outskirts of the town and rural areas including Drangbal, Sheeri, Narwa, Chandoosa, Sultanporanpora, Fatehpora and Delina. The trends indicate that PDP candidate Javid Beig is having an edge over NC candidate, Ghulam Hassan Rahi. Sopore town witnessed total election boycott to low turnout of vote. Posters asking people not to vote could be seen pasted in different areas. Like the town a total boycott was observed at Dooru village of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) and Doobgah, ancestral village of Mohammad Afzal Guru, who was hanged in Tihar jail. Only two votes were cast at Doobgah. Not a single vote was cast in large number of polling booths. Sopore town wore a deserted look.” We are not for elections but we want freedom,” said Mohammad Mukhtar, a youth in Sopore town. However the rural areas of Sopore recorded moderate to brisk voting. Long queues of voters could be seen in Uri constituency since morning. Mohara, which recently saw a militant attack on an army camp, too witnessed brisk polling. Out of the 947 votes 250 votes were polled in the first two hours of the polling. Heavy turnout was witnessed in main Uri town, Kamalkot, Bijhama, Silkot, Langama, Gangal and other areas. If the trends are to be believed then Congress candidate and minister Taj Mohi-u-Din it almost out of contest. The main contest is between National Conference candidate Mohammad Shafi Uri and PDP candidate candidate Raja Aijaz Ali. Pattan also recorded witnessed long queue of voters. Heavy polling was witnessed in the town and the rural areas. However, the boycott call evoked respose at Palhalan. PDP candidate, Imran Ansari, son of Late Iftikhar Hssain Ansari is having an edge. In Beerwah , where chief minister Omar Abdullah is contesting too witnessed heavy polling. Omar has a strong contest with Nazir Khan of Congress, who got large number of votes in Beerwah town. Khan is the son of former PDP MLA Sarfaraz Khan. Like Omar, PDP candidate Dr Mohammad Shafi Khan could not get much votes in town where some people described him as wrong man in right party. However Dr Shahi and Omar got votes in rural areas, where Nazir too had his share. Going by the brisk polling in Budgam constituency, it will not be a cake for NC candidate Aga Rohuallah. The heavy voting in Nasurullahpora and Soibug can change the verdict. Rohullah, from a prominent Shia family, got almost enmass the votes of Shias. Sameway Muntazir Mohi-u-Din got sunni votes. However his votes share was cut to some extent by Rafiq Dar of PDF, which the people believe was fieled by NC to divide Sunni votes.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 04:42:33 +0000
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