J&K gears up for 4th phase of assembly polls

Fate of 13 political heavyweights hangs in the balance as 12 more constituencies in north Kashmir's Baramulla district and central Kashmir's Budgam district go to polls on Sunday in the fourth phase of the assembly elections.

Among those in the fray are senior octogenarian Congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar, who after being denied a party ticket, is contesting as an independent candidate from the Sopore constituency in north Kashmir.

Former deputy chief minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh is seeking re-election from the sensitive Baramulla constituency.

Dr Mustaffa Kamal, another senior politician and younger brother of former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, is contesting from Gulmarg constituency, where he is pitched against Ghulam Hassan Mir from the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party.

Mir had defeated Kamal during the 2002 assembly polls in the same constituency.

Senior Congress leader and former minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din is seeking re-election from the border town of Uri.

Officials said that all arrangements had been made for smooth polling at 12 constituencies in Baramulla and Budgam districts.

According to a district election officer, over 3,000 poll officials, along with EVMs and polling material, have been dispatched for the 743 polling stations in Baramulla district.

The constituencies of Baramulla and Budgam have 9,02,951 eligible voters.

In all, 176 candidates are in the fray for the 12 constituencies of Baramulla and Budgam districts.