Srinagar: The contest for the upcoming Municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir, slated to be held from October 8 has become a smooth passage to most of the candidates in the Valley as over 200 candidates have won the elections unopposed.
Notably, the filling of nomination papers for Urban Local Bodies polls has culminated on Tuesday.
At least 215 candidates in the Valley who filed their nomination papers for the polls have won the elections unopposed while as in over 150 wards, no candidate has filed their papers.
A total of 624 wards are in Kashmir while as over 150 didn’t see any candidate. Besides, 215 candidates from different parties or independents won the elections uncontested due to the lack of opponents.
“Most of the wards in South Kashmir districts including Anantnag, Shopian, Pulwama and Kulgam didn’t see any candidates while some of the candidates in the districts who have filed their nomination papers won the elections unopposed,” official sources said.
Almost 930 candidates in the region have filed their nomination papers to contest in the polls. The sources privy to the development informed that the candidates from all the wards coming under the jurisdiction of Srinagar Municipal Committee (SMC) have filed nomination papers.
Seven candidates from their respective wards coming under the jurisdiction of SMC have won the elections unopposed, adding that 305 candidates filed their nomination papers in the wards coming under the jurisdiction of SMC.
Besides Kashmir, at least 13 candidates also won the elections unopposed in Jammu region.
Reliable sources added that the Jammu region has a total of 534 wards and the candidates from each and every ward filed their nomination papers for the upcoming polls.
They said that 715 candidates from Kashmir region will be contesting in the polls from 232 wards while as 2123 candidates in Jammu region have filed their nomination papers.
Sources further added that 66 candidates from Leh and Kargil have also filed their nomination papers from 26 wards.
Notably, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have boycotted the elections, citing situation in Kashmir. However, the two parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress claimed that their candidates won the elections from several wards uncontested.
Meanwhile Ministry of Home Affairs has directed the state government to provide adequate security to ensure peaceful and smooth conduct of polls. Reliable sources told KNS that governor led administration has put security agencies on high alert especially in Southern parts of the Valley.
They said candidates will be given fool proof security besides accommodation under tight security cover.
(With inputs from KNS)
