5 crorepatis in fray, cases against five

Anantnag PC

JAMMU: Out of the total 18 candidates in fray for the parliamentary constituencies Anantnag, former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti among five candidates, who hold criminal records while five corepatis are also contesting on the seat.

The Lok Sabha polls to the constituency are being held in three phases due to security reasons.

While Anantnag district will go to polls on Tuesday, voting in Kulgam district will be on April 29. Pulwama and Shopian districts will go to polls on May 6.

A case is registered against Mehbooba Mufti under Sections 500 of Indian Penal Code. The case was filed by Ali Mohammad Sagar.

BJP candidate Sofi Yousuf is also booked under section 3 of IPC.

Similarly, a case was filed against Manzoor Ahmad Khan under section 467 of IPC, who is an independent candidate contesting on the seat. Two cases were filed against Kyasir Ahmad Sheikh under sections 427, 147, 148, 336, 307, of IPC. He is also contesting election independently.

Zubair Masoodi has been also booked under relevant sections of IPC. However, the case is not serious.

Out of 5 corepatis candidates, Congress candidate Ghulam Ahmad Mir tops the list with total assets of more than worth Rs 14 cores.

National Conference candidate, Hasnain Masoodi maintained second spot with total assets of worth Rs 8 crore. The third spot in corepatis list is held by People conference candidate Ch. Zaffar Ali with total assets of worth Rs 2 core.

The BJP’s Sofi Yousuf and Independent candidate Ali Mohammad Wani, both are corepatis with total assets of worth Rs 1 crore.

This revelation was made by the Jammu and Kashmir Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR).

The election campaigning in Anantnag district came to an end this (Sunday) evening but will continue in Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian districts which form the Lok Sabha constituency.

The Election Commission has curtailed the polling duration for Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency by two hours following a request from the state police to this effect.

The polling will be held in south Kashmir areas from 7 am to 4 am.

The Election Commission has set-up 1,842 polling stations to facilitate smooth polling, the official said.

The constituency has 13,97,272 registered voters, including 7,20,337 males, 672879 females and 35 transgenders.

Anantnag district has 5,29,256 electors, including 2,69,603 males, 257540 females, 2102 service electors and 11 transgender voters.

For the smooth polling, the EC has set-up 714 polling stations in the district.

There are 18 candidates in the fray for the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat.