13 BJP, 2 Congress candidates withdraw nominations, 200 likely to sail through unopposed

A day ahead of the last date of withdrawal of nominations for the fourth and the last phase of municipal elections, 13 BJP candidates “withdrew” from the poll race in the Dooru area of Anantnag district. They also gave up the basic party membership. Dooru is scheduled to go to the polls on October 16. “All 13 members have withdrawn their nominations,” said Ghulam Hassan Bhat, constituency president of the BJP in Dooru. Bhat said he had also resigned from the primary membership of the party. “The party has done…

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No Elections in 169 Kashmir wards, 71 BJP candidates elected unopposed

At least 169 municipal wards in Kashmir will have no polls. One candidate withdrew from the elections on Wednesday, the last date of withdrawal of nominations for the third phase of the polls. As per the latest figures, at least 179 candidates in Kashmir are likely to win the elections without contest, while 250 wards will face election in the next two weeks. According to official figures of the chief electoral office, at least 426 nominations were found valid from the 14 municipalities of J&K falling under the third phase…

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Imtiyaz Parrey, Kuka Parrey’s son to win ULB polls unopposed from volatile Hajin

Notorious Ikhwan commander Kuka Parrey’s son will be elected unopposed from volatile Hajin town in the upcoming ULB polls. According to sources, Imtiyaz Ahmad Parrey son of Muhammad Yousuf Parrey alias Kuka Parrey, has filed nomination papers from two municipal wards in Hajin town on behalf of the Congress party. Parrey is also the district president of the Congress party. Along with Imtiyaz, seven more candidates of the Congress party will be elected unopposed from Hajin municipality. “All these candidates being unopposed will automatically win the elections. Neither BJP nor…

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To protest ‘Poll Drama’ JRL calls for shutdown on 8 Oct

The Joint Resistance Leaders (JRL) of Syed Ali Geelani and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday asked people to observe a complete shutdown across Jammu and Kashmir on October 8 to protest the commencement of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) and Panchayat election “drama being foisted upon them”. “Besides, people are urged to observe subsequent protest shutdown in their own respective areas as per the poll schedule on October 10, 13, and 16 respectively and show their complete disassociation and resentment against it,” Geelani and Mirwaiz said in a joint statement. “As…

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Four candidates held hostage by BJP MLC, not allowed to withdraw nominations: Families

Four candidates from Pahalgam area, who had filed nomination papers for 3rd phase of Urban Local Bodies (ULB) elections, were prevented from withdrawing their nominations from Pahalgam Municipal committee by a BJP leader, their relatives alleged on Wednesday. The relatives of four candidates staged protest in the office of Deputy Commissioner Anantnag against the alleged “kidnapping” of the candidates. “The four candidates, all of whom are affiliated with BJP, intend to withdraw their nomination papers. Among them include two females. They, however, are being prevented from doing so,” they alleged.…

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No Names, No Faces, No Campaign: Secrecy drapes Kashmir Valley local polls

The first phase of local body elections in J&K starts October 8 but there’s no campaigning, no door-to-door canvassing, no poll rally in the Valley. Even the names of candidates who have filed nomination papers or their political affiliations are not being disclosed. Officials cite “security reasons” for the veil of secrecy over the conduct of the “faceless” poll process, especially in the troubled south of the Valley. They say disclosure of candidate details will make them vulnerable to threats, even endanger lives. So far, 851 candidates have filed nomination…

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Hizb poster surfaced in Bandipora warning ULB poll contestants, SPO’s and Transporters

A Hizbul Mujahideen poster, warning few Special Police Officers (SPOs) to quit their jobs or face consequences was seen pasted at a marketplace in north Kashmir’s Bandipora town Friday morning. Militants have also warned people who have filed nominations forms for upcoming ULB elections. Transporters especially auto and Sumo drivers were also warned and they have been asked to keep away their vehicles from roads on strike days. “We Inform you(named few)SPOs to resign within next three days to avoid fatal consequences” read a poster printed in Urdu. HM has…

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Over 30 youth received pellet injures during clashes in Srinagar, Chadoora

Over 30 youth were hit by pellets, four of them in eyes, in forces pellet firing during clashes in Chadoora in Budgam and Noorbagh in Srinagar on Thursday. About two dozen youth were hit by pellets in forces firing during clashes as people tried to march towards encounter site in Panzan village of Chadoora in Budgam today. In the encounter, two Hizb militants were killed. Witnesses said soon after locals heard militants were holed up in a mosque, they tried to reach the encounter site. However, forces intercepted them and…

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Forces using chemical weapons during gunfights, Geelani calls for international probe

Chairman Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani today alleged that forces have used ‘chemical weapons in Bandipora during cordon and search operations, which is a crime against humanity.’ Geelani has also demanded that a high level probe should be carried out the International war crime tribunal under the guidance of UN. Expressing his grave and serious concern on the use of chemical weapon by the forces during the cordon and search operation carried out against the suspected presence of militants in Kashmir, Geelani said that on the pretext of…

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Article 35A Row united Kashmir: Saif-u-Din Soz

Senior Congress leader Professor Saif-u-Din Soz Wednesday said Kashmir must unite for seeking dismissal of petitions challenging Article 35A before the Supreme Court, and advised New Delhi to take the course of talks with the angry people of Kashmir. “Perhaps, the Joint Resistance Leadership could talk better, if the talks had opened,” Soz said, addressing reporters at his Humhama residence. “I congratulate the Kashmiris for showing unity in defending the special position of Jammu and Kashmir enshrined in constitution of India and in constitution of J&K.” The veteran Congress leader…

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