Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Aug 30: A total of nine female candidates are in the fray in the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, slated on September 18.
As per the details available, out of nine female candidates in fray, five are contesting from Kashmir division while four others from Jammu division.
Candidates fighting elections from Kashmir division include Daisy Raina associated with Republican Party of India on Rajpora Pulwama seat, Gulshan Akhter as an independent from Anantnag West, Iltija Mufti from Bijbehara-Srigufwara constituency on Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, Afroza Bano as an independent from Kulgam and Sakeena Masood Itoo from D H Pora constituency on National Conference ticket.
Candidates contesting from Jammu division include Meenakshi Bhagat on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Bhaderwah, Meenakshi Kalra an independent candidate from Doda West, Pooja Thakur from Padder-Nagsani on NC ticket and Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar on BJP ticket.
Speaking to KNO, the female candidates said that they will work for the welfare, protection and education of women if elected to power.
Meenakshi Bhagat said that she has been fighting elections for the first time but if she is elected, she will work to ensure better education and job opportunities for women folk.
“I will work to fill the gap between police and women as women usually fear bringing their issues into the notice of police authorities,” she said.
Former minister and senior NC leader Sakina Itoo told KNO that her party has mentioned many things for womenfolk in its manifesto and once they will form the government they will take up the women-friendly steps at an earliest.
Meenakshi Kalra, an independent candidate from Doda said that the area from where she is fighting elections is very far from development and she will fight for the rights and development of the area if voted to power.
Other women candidates while echoing the similar voices said that women folk are still behind in many things and they will fight for women empowerment at every front.
Pertinently, more than 23.27 lakh voters which include11.76 lakh male voters and 11.51 lakh female voters and 60 third gender electors are eligible to exercise their electoral franchise during the Phase-I of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election, scheduled to be held on 18 September 2024. 5.66 lakh youth voters are also eligible for voting.
The notification for the Phase-I was issued on 20 August, 2024 and the last date for filing the nominations for Phase-I was 27 August, 2024 till 3:00 pm.
The nomination papers were scrutinised by the respective Returning Officers on 28 August, 2024, while the candidates were asked to withdraw their nomination papers by or before 30 August, 2024 upto 3:00 pm in the office of Returning Officer.
