BJP, PDP ‘Spoiled’ poll atmosphere in Kashmir, resulted in low voter turnout, slams Congress

The Congress on Thursday accused the Centre and the erstwhile BJP-PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir of “spoiling” the atmosphere in the state and held them responsible for the current situation there, where people are “afraid” to cast their vote. The Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who hails from the state, said this was not the first time that voter turnout in municipal polls in the Kashmir Valley has been low compared to that in the Jammu region. Senior party leader Ambika Soni alleged that…

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Voting begins for IInd phase of Urban Local Bodies, 1029 candidates in fray for 263 wards across JK

Amid tight seceuity arrangements polling in the second phase of Urban Local Bodies began on Wednesday.At 8:00 am 341 votes (211 from male and 130 from females) were cast in Sumbal. The voting started at 6: am and it will end at 4:00 pm. Over 1000 candidates are contesting polls in the second phase in 263 wards spanning 13 districts across the state – seven of which are in Kashmir. The second phase of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polls would be held in the State on Wednesday and fate of…

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Low voter turnout in Kashmir Civic Polls the beginning of a downward slide for electoral process?

Unable to mobilise electoral support, Kashmir’s civic poll candidates on Monday managed to draw a dismal 8.3 per cent turnout during the first leg of the elections in the region. “It wasn’t even a trickle,” remarked an Independent candidate who was in fray for the civic polls in north Kashmir’s Baramulla. The ward he was contesting from had a total of 1,006 votes. His wife, his polling agent and the candidate himself made up the only three votes that were cast on Monday. Unable to mobilise electoral support, Kashmir’s civic…

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Voter queues in Jammu, Low turn out across Kashmir, Internet Speed reduced to 2G, Media bared

The Municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir that is taking place after a gap of 13 years, on Monday witnessed long queues in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts while people barely arrived in the valley booths that wore a deserted look. Enthusiastic voters lined up outside the polling stations in Gandhi Nagar, R.S.Pura, Arnia, Jurian, Khour, Akhnoor, Bishnah, Nowshera, Surankote, Kalakote, and at many other places from 7 a.m., as the polling began. In the valley, the scene was just the opposite as the first phase of civic polls began…

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Unopposed, BJP wins majority in Shopian, Candidates moved to ‘Secure’ places in J&K

While candidates in fray for the urban local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir have been moved to “secure places” after the names of some went viral on the social media, the BJP has secured a majority in the militancy-infested Shopian district with its 13 candidates elected unopposed. Twenty municipalities will go to the polls on October 13. But the strength of candidates being insufficient, voters in only four of these municipalities will cast their vote. “Many candidates will be elected unopposed. With no nominations, most wards will remain unrepresented,”…

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Blot on democracy, BJP importing candidates to Kashmir: Congress

With a majority of the candidates declared elected unopposed in the urban local bodies elections in south Kashmir, the Congress on Wednesday accused the BJP of “importing” nominees and making a mockery of the grassroots-level democracy. The BJP, however, termed the charges as “baseless and unfounded” and rubbished the allegations as the Congress’ attempt to hide its failure to field candidates in Kashmir. Facing the heat for making it a virtual walkover for the BJP in the south Kashmir by not fielding candidates in most of the seats, J&K Pradesh…

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At least 215 candidates elected unopposed across Kashmir Valley

As the filing of nomination for all the four phases of Urban Local Bodies (UBL) polls in Jammu and Kashmir has ended, 215 candidates have been elected uncontested. The filing of nomination papers for the 4th phase of ULB polls ended today. The 4-phase polls for 79 ULBs in the State would be held on October 8, 10, 13 and 16. Sources said at least 215 candidates in the Valley, who filed their nomination papers for the polls, have been elected unopposed while in over 150 wards, no candidate has…

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PDP, NC activists intimidating BJP candidates: Ram Madhav

Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary, on Friday said like separatists and terror groups, activists of the PDP and the National Conference (NC) were also intimidating candidates filing nominations for the civic bodies elections in the Valley. “We have received information from different parts of Kashmir that PDP and NC workers have threatened BJP activists who filed nominations for the civic bodies elections,” Madhav, who was in Srinagar on Thursday, told mediapersons here. “We have already lodged complaints with the police in this regard and investigation has been initiated,” he…

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Pakistan rakes up Kashmir Issue at OIC, India calls it ‘Unwarranted’

Lodging strong protest over Pakistan raking up the Kashmir issue at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, India on Thrusday called the act “completely unwarranted” for the grouping as well as its member countries to discuss matters related to India’s internal affairs in any multilateral set up. It was on Wednesday when Pakistan raked up the Kashmir issue at the OIC Contact Group meeting held on the sidelines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. “We always note with regret that the matter which is very internal…

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Barring south Kashmir, polls draw good response across state

Barring terror-hit south Kashmir, candidates have given good response to the second phase of the urban local bodies poll in Jammu and Kashmir with about 1,200 candidates filing nominations for 384 municipal wards in 13 districts. While no candidate came forward to file nomination for the Frisal municipal committee in the trouble-torn Kulgam district even on the last day of filing of nominations for the second phase on Thursday, as many as 81 candidates filed their papers for 20 wards of the Srinagar municipal corporation (SMC). Two municipal committees of…

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