SRINAGAR: A total of nine female candidates are in the fray in the first phase of the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, slated for 18 September.
Out of the nine female candidates, five are contesting from the Kashmir division, while four are from the Jammu division.
Candidates contesting from the Kashmir division include Daisy Raina of the Republican Party of India on the Rajpora Pulwama seat, Gulshan Akhter as an independent from Anantnag West, Iltija Mufti from the Bijbehara-Srigufwara constituency on a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket, Afroza Bano as an independent from Kulgam, and Sakeena Masood Itoo from the D H Pora constituency on a National Conference (NC) ticket.
Candidates contesting from the Jammu division include Meenakshi Bhagat of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) from Bhaderwah, Meenakshi Kalra as an independent candidate from Doda West, Pooja Thakur from Padder-Nagsani on an NC ticket, and Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.
Meenakshi Bhagat told local news agency KNO that this is her first time contesting elections, but if elected, she will work to ensure better education and job opportunities for women.
“I will work to bridge the gap between police and women, as women usually fear bringing their issues to the notice of the police,” she said.
Former minister and senior NC leader Sakina Itoo said that her party has included many initiatives for women in its manifesto, and once they form the government, they will prioritise women-friendly measures.
Meenakshi Kalra, an independent candidate from Doda, said that the area she is contesting from is very underdeveloped, and she will fight for the rights and development of the area if voted to power.
Other female candidates echoed similar sentiments, stating that women are still lagging in many areas, and they will fight for women’s empowerment on every front.
Notably, more than 23.27 lakh voters, including 11.76 lakh male voters, 11.51 lakh female voters, and 60 third-gender electors, are eligible to exercise their franchise during Phase-I of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election, scheduled to be held on 18 September 2024. Additionally, 5.66 lakh youth voters are also eligible to vote.
The notification for Phase-I was issued on 20 August 2024, and the last date for filing nominations for Phase-I was 27 August 2024 by 3:00 pm.
The nomination papers were scrutinised by the respective Returning Officers on 28 August 2024, and candidates were required to withdraw their nomination papers by 30 August 2024, up to 3:00 pm, at the office of the Returning Officer. (KNO)
