Postal ballots for migrants in midst of controversy

Syed Ali Safvi

JAMMU, Nov 26: In the run-up to the third phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, political parties have intensified their election campaign and are resorting to all sorts of gimmicks to outdo each other. After successfully wooing voters in the valley, they have now turned their eyes on the Kashmiri migrant votes,largely scattered across Jammu region.

Their task is being equally facilitated allegedly by the state election machinery. Chief Election Commission has reportedly issued over a thousand postal ballots for the third phase of elections allegedly at the residences of workers of the political parties.

According to sources, about 1500 postal ballots have been issued for about 2200 migrant voters of Handwara assembly segment, which goes to polls in the third phase of elections on November 30.

Some contestants from Handwara allege that this may enable certain parties to cast bogus votes as postal ballots issued in the previous assembly elections were issued on addresses of party workers of National Conference.

In 2002, the Chief Election Commission had cancelled around 700 posting ballots after reports that most of them were issued in the names of migrant voters with addresses at the residences of National Conference (NC) workers.

The postal ballots are said to have been issued even though five polling booths have been set for the migrant voters in Jammu, and one each in Nagrota, Udhampur and Delhi for a total of 2200 voters.

When contacted, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, however, refuted the allegations."I have not received any complaint regarding this," he told Kashmir Times. "If any one has grievances should approach our office, we will redress the complaint."

Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), Rashpal Singh, said that no postal ballots have been arranged for Kupwara constituency.

"We have so far issued only three postal ballots for Langate constituency for the third phase of elections and no postal ballot has been issued for Kupwara constituency," Singh told Kashmir Times. "Two applications were rejected because they did not have proper grounds."

Singh said that the postal ballots were issued in front of the election observers "after proper scrutiny".

Four assembly segments of militancy-affected Kupwara district have a total number of 7648 migrant votes. Kupwara has 2731, followed by Handwara (2528), Langate (1338) and Lolab (1051). Karnah assembly segment does not have any migrant vote.

The postal ballot scheme was initially introduced in the state of Jammu and Kashmir during May 1996 Lok Sabha elections to enable displaced Pandits of the Kashmir valley to exercise their franchise through postal ballot papers, in their respective constituencies in the conflict-ridden Kashmir region from their present residences.

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Triangular contest in traditional NC stronghold Budgam

Syed Ali Safvi

Jammu, Nov 25: Budgam assembly segment will go to polls on December 7. As many as 16 candidates, including two former ministers and a legislator, are in the fray, but the main fight is between three candidates. The constituency has been a traditional stronghold of National Conference (NC) with a 100 per cent winning record. NC, which kick-started its poll campaign from Budgam assembly segment on October 23, has again given mandate to its blue-eyed-boy and former MLA Aga Syed Ruhullah, who looks very confident of securing "over 25000 votes" this time.

However, it may not be a cake-walk for Ruhullah, who successfully contested in 2002 on NC ticket and benefited from a considerable sympathy vote after his father Aga Syed Mehdi – a Congress leader – was killed in a powerful IED blast near Magam on Srinagar-Gulmarg road on November 4, 2000.

In 2002, Ruhullah defeated another scion of prominent Aga family of Budgam and former minister Aga Syed Mehmood by a margin of 6645 votes. Mehmood, who had twice served as minister in Farooq's cabinet, had contested as an independent candidate after the party refused to give him mandate from his home constituency Budgam.

Mehmood, who is again contesting independently from Budgam, enjoys the support of Abid Ansari, who is a brother of People's Democratic Party (PDP) senior vice president Molvi Iftikhar Ansari. Ansaris hold a considerable sway over a chunk of Shia voters in Budgam constituency, which has about 27,000 Shia votes. Mehmood-Ansari alliance is likely to improve the winning prospects of Mehmood this time. However, Ruhullah has other thoughts for obvious reasons.

"I don't think it (Aga-Ansari alliance) is going to affect my prospect," he told Kashmir Times. "If the turnout is good, I am confident of getting 50 to 60 per cent of the total votes."

Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Forum chairman and former minister Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen is also trying his luck from Budgam assembly segment. Both Hakeem and Mehmood may possibly ride on the anti-incumbency against Ruhullah.

Like Ruhullah, Hakeem too seems very optimistic about winning the seat.

"People of Budgam constituency requested me to contest election from Budgam segment," he told Kashmir Times. "Both Shias and Sunnis are favouring me and I am sure of winning."

Ruhullah is likely to get bulk of votes from Budgam proper, Karipora, Paller, Sundergund, Palpora, Nor, Wahpora, Razwen, Jahama, and Garind, while Mehmood is likely to get maximum votes from Shoolipora, Nasrullahpora, Durbal and Shareefabad.

Both Mehmood and Ruhullah may have to share votes in Bemina, Ichgam, Mehwara, Labertal, Zoorigund and Khanpur.

Hakeem has an edge in Yechikoot, Humhama, Sheikh pora, Narkara, and Gudsoth, while PDP's M Kamal Malik could get a major chunk of votes from Ompora and Soibugh.

The Kashmir Coordination Committee (KCC) election boycott call, however, is likely to have an impact in the home village of United Jehad Council (UJC) supremo Syed Salauddin - Soibugh, Humhama, Ompora, and Nasrullahpora.

Budgam assembly segment has a total of 87,028 registered voters, which include 44,844 male and 42,184 female voters. In 2002, 22,531 (33.40%) votes out of 67,445 votes were polled. The total polling stations to be set up in the constituency this time is 93, as compared to 63 in 2002 elections.

Budgam constituency has been a traditional stronghold of NC and the party has never lost any election from Budgam. NC president has many a time himself described it as "NC's forte". Aga Syed Ali Shah Safvi of NC won the seat from 1952 to 1967. In 1967 assembly elections, Hakeem Syed Mehdi of NC defeated then chief ministerial candidate Ghulam Muhammad Sadiq of Congress by a margin of over 40 per cent votes. NC did not contest 1972 elections and consequently the seat went to Ali Muhammad Mir of Congress who defeated Aga Syed Ali Shah who then fought as an independent candidate. That was the only time when a non-NC candidate managed to win the seat. Ghulam Hassan Geelani of NC represented the constituency from 1977 to 2002. In 2002, NC'S Aga Ruhullah secured 11,398 votes and defeated his nearest rival Aga Mehmood, an independent candidate, by a margin of 6645 votes. Mehmood polled 4,753 votes.

Candidates contesting from Budgam assembly segment include, Aga Syed Ruhullah mehdi (JKNC), Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen (Ind), Aga Syed Mehmood (Ind), M Kamal Malik (PDP), Mir Fayaz Rahat (Congress), Bashir Ahmad Najar (Ind), Syed Mujtaba (Ind), Abdul Ahad Sheikh (Ind), Abdul Gani Naseem (Ind), Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir (RJD), Ghulam Nabi Ganaie (ANC), Muhamad Ibrahim Khan (BSP), M Ashraf Azad Hajam (BJP), M Ashraf Ahangar (Ind), Zahoor Ahmad Badoo (Ind), and Nazir Ahmad Wani (Ind).

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Will NC avenge 2002?

Syed Ali Safvi

JAMMU, Nov 22: The prestigious assembly segment of Ganderbal is going to polls tomorrow. All the political parties have done their home work. Now it's the time for people to decide. Ganderbal has developed a knack of springing surprises. Upto 2002 it was considered a stronghold of National Conference (NC) and a "safe haven" for Sheikh family, but in 2002 assembly elections the voters left all and sundry astonished when the scion of Sheikh family and then chief ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah lost to People's Democratic Party's (PDP's) candidate Qazi Muhammad Afzal.

Omar Abdullah is again contesting from Ganderbal, but will he be lucky second time is a million dollar question. It will not be a cakewalk for him for sure. NC has not left any stone unturned in order to woo the voters. Almost all the bigwigs of the party have campaigned for the party president. NC's only influential Shia leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who holds considerable sway over a chunk of Shia voters in the constituency, also accompanied junior Abdullah many a time to garner support in his favour. It's a do or die situation for two-time member Parliament Omar who is yet to win an assembly election. Nonetheless, there is a possibility that Omar may ride on the anti-incumbency against Qazi Afzal.

Omar is facing stiff competition this time not from PDP's Qazi Afzal, but from Congress' Ishfaq Jabbar Sheikh. Ishfaq has some goodwill in the constituency and enjoys a considerable support of the electorate. Ishfaq is the son of Jabbar Sheikh who served as minister in Farooq's cabinet. To show his strength, sub-inspector-turned politician Ishfaq had organised a public rally at Beehama earlier this year which was attended by over 6000 persons including the supporters of NC senior leader Mian Altaf Ahmad. He had planned to contest from Ganderbal on NC ticket, but was denied mandate by the party high command. Consequently, he was roped in by Congress as a potential candidate against Omar.

To show down Omar, Ishfaq has played a political card that could go against the junior Abdullah. The contest between Omar and Ishfaq has become a contest between a local and outside candidate. To dent Omar's image, PDP, on the other hand, is asking NC president to "clear up" his links with Malegaon blast accused Swami Dayanand Pandey. Senior PDP leader and former minister Tariq Hameed Qarra was seen flashing the photograph of Omar with the Swami, at a press conference in Srinagar earlier this week.

The former minister and PDP senior leader Qazi Muhammad Afzal is seeking second term from Ganderbal, but if the public mood is anything to go by, Afzal could face voter's ire for his controversial role in the Amarnath land transfer deal.

NC is likely to get chunk of votes from its traditional stronghold belts of Sher Pathri, Dab, Alasteng and Waliwar, while as Congress has an edge in Lar, Wakura (hometown of senior Congress vice president and MLC Ali Muhammad Wakura) and Beehama. The Kashmir Coordination Committee (KCC) election boycott call is likely to have an impact in Jamat-i-Islami stronghold Saloora, Dudarhama and to some extent in Beehama.

There are 77,616 registered voters, which include 39,982 male and 37,634 female voters, in Ganderbal assembly segment. Around 79 polling stations have been setup in the constituency where 12 candidates are in the fray.

Out of eight elections held since 1962 NC has managed to won five of them. In 1962 and 1967 NC's Abdul Slam Aitu and Congress' MM Bhat respectively won uncontested. Muhammad Maqbool Bhat of Congress emerged victorious in 1972. Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah successfully contested from Ganderbal in 1977 and defeated his nearest rival Ali Muhammad Taria - an independent candidate - by a huge margin. Farooq Abdullah wrested the seat from 1983 to 2002. In 2002 assembly elections PDP's Qazi Afzal defeated Farooq's son and then chief ministerial candidate Omar Abdullah by a margin of over 12 per cent votes.

Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah today served a legal notice to Mehbooba Mufti and Tariq Hameed Qarra for "making false, incorrect and motivated allegations" against him. Both Mehbooba and Qarra had asked Omar to clear-up his links with Swami Dayanand. Omar in turn had maintained that Qarra was also present at the same function organized by the accused Dayanand. The NC president today sought an apology from the PDP leaders, failing which he threatened to file a suit for damages to the tune of Rs.1 crore.

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