In restive south, BJP is single largest party

Suhail A Shah

Anantnag, October 20

In the restive south Kashmir region, the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in the urban local bodies elections held amid a boycott call by the Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference.

The Congress, however, is not far behind the BJP in the tally of the total wards won.

The region comprising Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam districts is considered to be a militancy hotbed. The region has 25 municipal committees and councils, including 15 in Anantnag, five in Pulwama district, four in Kulgam and one in Shopian district.

A total of 265 wards were up for grabs in the 25 municipalities. The BJP has emerged as the single largest party with a total of 57 wards in its kitty.

The Congress has garnered 53 wards and Independents 21 wards. A large chunk of the wards — 131 — have remained vacant.

Only four municipalities of the Anantnag district witnessed polls. In the remaining three districts, no voting was conducted. The nominees in these districts were either declared elected unopposed or there were no candidates at all.

Like in the Shopian municipality, the BJP candidates swept the polls by getting elected unopposed. For the 13 wards, 12 nominations were filed by BJP candidates, including four women.

“All of them were elected opposed,” an official from the district said, adding that the all were migrant Kashmiri Pandits living in Jammu.

In the militancy-infested Tral area of Pulwama district, four BJP candidates were elected unopposed. The BJP has also done well in the Pahalgam municipality where it secured seven of the 13 wards, unopposed.

In certain municipalities, due to militant threats, the authorities received no nominations at all.

In Khrew of Pulwama district, no nominations were filed for its 13 wards. Likewise in the Frisal municipality of Kulgam district, not even a single nomination was received by the authorities for 13 seats.