Srinagar: As the eight-phase maiden District Development Council (DDC) elections is round the corner, all the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have blown their poll trumpet to lure the voters.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has roped in star campaigners like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Shahnawaz Hussain and Zaffarul Islam to seek vote for development while the regional parties viz National Conference (NC), People's Democratic Party (PDP) are banking on local leadership to keep BJP away.
Interestingly, sensitive districts of south Kashmir is to witness regular visits and campaigns by the politicians from all parties despite the area being vulnerable to militancy-related activities. Recently, three BJP workers were killed by suspected militants in Kulgam district.
Despite of apprehensions of DDC polls being under the militant's radar, hundreds of candidates have filed nomination papers for the upcoming polls.
Another interesting development in these elections is the participation of women candidates. In Anantnag district, more women are contesting compared to their male counterparts -- which has happened for the first time in the political history of the area.
BJP leaders are holding daily rallies while taking potshots at People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of six mainstream parties, demanding restoration of J&K's special status. PAGD candidates are preferring door-to-door campaigns alleging 'not being allowed to the campaign by the administration in the name of security.'
Former ministers and remarkable participation of independent candidates have also made these elections an interesting affair.
Choudhary Taj Mohiuddin, one of the senior-most Congress leaders, who has served several terms as Minister and MLA, is the same party's candidate in the DDC elections from Uri in Baramulla district. Former minister Zulfkar Choudhary has fielded his wife Zubeda, as JKAP's candidate in the DDC election from Koteranka in Rajouri district.
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In Jammu's Rajouri district, yet another battlefield is forming up in Manjakot where a senior Congress leader and former Minister and MLA, Shabir Khan, is trying his luck in the DDC.
However, the J&K administration too has finalised all the arrangements for the peaceful conduct of election first time in the region following the abrogation of article 370 and 35 A. According to the statement issued by the J&K election commission, strictest security arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of elections. Additional security companies have been called to secure the polling stations.
