Record number of candidates in J-K polls

M I Jehangir

Srinagar, Dec 9 (PTI) Assembly polls in India's frontier state of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been synonymous with breaking records as far as number of contestants is concerned, have not only broken the previous ones in the state but also created many this time.

With over 1,300 candidates in fray for the 87-member
House, the 2008 assembly election has witnessed an increase of
nearly 100 percent in the number of contestants as against
that of the last polls held in 2002.

This year's election also recorded the highest number of
female contestants, national parties, state parties,
independents and even former chief ministers in multi-cornered
contests.

Assembly elections of 2002, described as a historic
landmark by both the Centre and the state for the large number
of contestants, had 706 candidates a record at that time. This
year, the record was shattered with the number of candidates
increasing by leaps and bounds.

In the 1996 elections, which were held after a gap of nine
years due to eruption of militancy in early 1990s, 541
politicians took part in the democratic process despite the
militants' threat. The increase in the number of contestants
during the elections over that of the 1987 polls was marginal.

The difference in the number of candidates in 1987 and
1983 polls, when 515 and 511 candidates were in the fray
respectively, was also negligible.

This year's elections also witnessed three former chief
ministers leading their respective parties in the contests,
hoping to turn the electorate in favour of their party
candidates.

National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah is contesting
from Hazratbal and Sonawar constituencies in Srinagar district
while his arch rival and patron of People's Democratic Party
(PDP) Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is in fray from Anantnag
constituency.

Another former chief minister and Congress leader Ghulam
Nabi Azad is contesting from Bhaderwah constituency in Doda
district.

The number of women candidates this year compared to the
last assembly polls was double as only 27 females contested
that time.

As far as independent candidates are concerned, their
number has increased by nearly 50 percent. In the 2002 polls,
215 of them contested while 320 aspirants are trying their
luck this time.

The independents won 15 seats in the last polls but it
seems unlikely that so many would again make it this time as
many of them have formed their own political parties.

There has also been an increase in the number of
national, regional and state political parties which have
fielded many candidates in the assembly polls this year.

Besides Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), some
other parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Samajwadi Party
(SP), Lok Janshakti Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Rashtriya Lok
Dal, All India Forward Bloc, Communist Party of India- Marxist
(CPI-M) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have fielded
candidates.

Other in the fray include National Conference, People's
Democratic Party and National Panthers Party, Democratic Party
Nationalist, People's Democratic Front, Awami National
Conference and Save Srinagar Front. PTI MIJ