NVI Special Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 07 (NVI): The longest night for the 873 candidates who contested on 90 Assembly seats first time in a decade, has started as majority of them won’t sleep tonight as tomorrow will spring many surprises that would entail joy for some and disappointment for some. Finally the day has come when the results for 90 seats will be out as the counting of votes will start 7:30 am in the morning tomorrow (Tuesday).
J&K witnessed first ever Assembly polls after a decade as a Union Territory. The elections were also first without Article 370 and without Ladakh as a party of J&K. Once the results would be out, J&K will have first government since the abrogation of Article 370.
Three -Tier Security at Counting Centres: J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) P K Pole said that a three-tier security has been put in place at all counting centres across the UT. “There are 25 counting centres in the UT. Three centres have been set up for counting of migrant votes,” he said. He said the counting will start at 7:30 with postal ballots first and then Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). “All arrangements are in place. Candidates have also been given information about their counting agents. EVMs are very much protected in a multi-layer security of police, CRPF and other officials,” Pole said. “We have taken steps to ensure smooth counting across all centres.”
Elections in J&K were held in three phases from September 18 to October 1. Of the 90 seats in the Kashmir Valley and Jammu region, 24 voted in the first phase, 26 in the second and 40 in the third.
There were 873 candidates in the fray for 90 seats, the fate of whom has been sealed. In all three phases, J&K recorded 63.88 per cent, less than the 65.52 percent recorded in the 2014 assembly elections.
PROMINENT CANDIDATES IN FRAY: National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah contested from Budgam and Ganderbal assembly segments, Sajad Gani Lone of People’s Conference from Handwara and Kupwara seats, Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Hamid Karra from Shalteng and BJP J&K president Ravindra Raina from Nowshera seat.
The other big-wigs who contested polls include AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir from Dooru, PDP leaders Waheed Para from Pulwama), Iltija Mufti from Bijbehara, Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari from Chanapora, CPI(M) veteran Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami from Kulgam and former deputy chief ministers Muzaffar Hussain Baig and Tara Chand.
Interestingly, exit polls on Saturday suggested NC was on the front seat in Kashmir and BJP in Jammu. BJP has claimed that it will win full majority. There is a need of 48 seats for forming the government.
Fingers Crossed: The candidates in the fray told NVI that they won’t sleep as indeed it would be the sleepless night for them. “Our everything is at stake. Our honour is at a stake. How can we sleep tonight,” said a NC candidate. “There is a bit of fear, little bit of joy and a high heart rate. In such a situation no one can sleep. Feelings shared by candidates of PDP, Peoples Conference, Congress,AIP and some independents were no different.
Deserted party offices: Unlike past, there was no hustle and bustle at the offices of major political parities in Srinagar that include Nawa-e-Subh complex of NC, PDP office at SK Park and Congress office at Moulana Azad Road. Earlier, the party workers would decorate the offices ahead of the counting to celebrate the victory of candidates. This time, nothing of that sort was witnessed at any of the offices. (News Vibes of India).
