J&K contestants await results with bated breath

More than 800 contestants in Jammu and Kashmir will spend a couple of nervous nights till December 23 when counting of votes for elections to the 12th Legislative Assembly will be held, after a record turnout in the five-phase polls in the state.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Opposition PDP’s chief ministerial candidate Mufti Mohammad Sayeed are among the 821 candidates, who are seeking election from the 87 constituencies.

While Omar is contesting from Beerwah seat in Budgam district and Sonawar seat in Srinagar, Sayeed is seeking re-election from Anantnag Assembly segment in the south Kashmir district.

Most of the observers will keenly watch the result of Handwara Assembly constituency in north Kashmir Kupwara district where separatist-turned mainstream politician Sajjad Gani Lone is trying his luck.

Most political observers and opinion polls are predicting a hung Assembly in the state with no party getting a clear majority.

Rumours are afloat about various political parties trying to work out an alliance, depending on the numbers thrown up post the declaration of results on Tuesday.

BJP has launched a scathing attack on its rival Congress on the national scene, and both regional players — National Conference and PDP. These parties, while hitting out at BJP, have not spared each other as well.

National Conference and Congress, which were coalition partners for the past six years in the state but decided to go alone in the Assembly polls, fought a bitter war of words during the election campaign.