M A I N   N E W S

Stage set for Phase II J-K polls today
Omar Abdullah’s fate hangs in balance;
separatists call for ‘Ganderbal Chalo’ march
Ehsan Fazili
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, November 22
The stage is set for tomorrow’s polling in six constituencies in the second phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which include the prestigious constituency of Ganderbal and Kangan in the newly created Ganderbal district near here.

Nowshera, Darhal, Rajouri and Kalakote in Rajouri district of Jammu region are other constituencies going for polls.

An electorate of 4.94 lakh voters would decide the fate of 81 candidates in fray for six constituencies.

Meanwhile, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, co-chairman of the separatist coordination committee, has announced to go ahead with its programme of ‘Ganderbal Chalo’ on the polling day tomorrow.

In a statement here today, the APHC chairman appealed to the people to march towards Ganderbal to express indifference to the ongoing electoral process in the state.

People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone also appealed to the people of Ganderbal and Kangan to “understand the concept of vote”, saying that the government would use the voting figures as a substitute for resolution.

There were clashes between the contesting parties and anti-election demonstrators during campaigning in the twin constituencies of Ganderbal district.

National Conference president Omar Abdullah is contesting the Ganderbal constituency, where he is pitted against the PDP’s Qazi Mohammad Afzal, who won the Sheikh family’s home constituency in the 2002 elections.