Jammu/Ranchi: Just before the third phase of polling in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, Pakistani troops on Monday night violated the ceasefire by resorting to small arms firing on some forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district.
Pakistani troops resorted to small arms firing in Hamirpur sub-sector in Poonch district around 21.30 hours after which the Indian troops guarding the border retaliated effectively, resulting in exchange of fire. The exchange continued for 10 minutes. There was no casualty or injury to anyone due to the firing.
Sixty four crorepatis and nine candidates facing criminal charges are among the 138 in fray in 16 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir which will go to polls in the third phase on December 9. This phase will seal the fate of big names, including chief minister Omar Abdullah.
The sixteen constituencies are spread over three districts of Baramulla, Budgam and Pulwama, all in Kashmir Valley. The affidavits submitted by the candidates along with their nomination papers suggested that 64 are crorepatis and nine face criminal charges including attempt to murder and assault on a woman.
Other candidates have charges of cheating, forgery, rioting, criminal trespass and assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty among others against them.
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has the highest number of crorepatis - 14 out of the 16, while the ruling National Conference (NC) has 14. The Congress has nine out of its 15 candidates, while BJP has two out of its eight candidates in the fray. Among the 54 Independents, 22 (41 per cent) have declared assets worth more than Rs 1 crore.
There are more rich candidates in the third phase (46 per cent) in comparison to the first two phases.
Meanwhile in Jharkhand, 17 assembly seats will go to polls in the third phase where nearly 50 lakh voters will decide the fate of 289 candidates including three independents.
The constituencies going to the poll are: Kodarma, Barkatha, Barhi, Barkagaon, Ramgarh, Mandu, Hazaribagh, Simaria (SC), Dhanwar, Gomia, Bermo, Ichagarh, Silli, Khijri (ST), Ranchi, Hatia and Kanke (SC). They are spread over eight districts - Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Bokaro, Chatra, Seraikella/Kharsawan, Ramgarh,
More than 80 candidates with criminal cases against their names are in the fray in the third phase of polls. CPIM candidate, Heera Gope from Badkagoan constituency in Jharkhand has more than 18 criminal cases against him while Kashi Nath singh, the JVM candidate from Beramo has six criminal cases against him of serious nature.
In fact, Jharkhand is the only state where Madhu Koda, despite being an Independent and tainted MLA went on to become the chief Minister in 2006 and finally had to go behind bars on corruption charges. Most political parties have freely distributed tickets to candidates with tainted backgrounds, only considering the winibility factor.
Marandi, who became the first chief minister of the state after resigning from the erstwhile Atal Bihari Vajpayee council of ministers on November 15, 2000, is locked in a tight contest at Dhanwar constituency which was won by his Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) candidate Nizzamudin Ansari in the 2009 Assembly elections.
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