J-K polls: Independent candidates dominate Kupwara, Ganderbal

Leaving behind Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, Independent candidates marched ahead winning maximum seats in Kupwara and Ganderbal districts of the state in the municipal elections.

Out of total 17 seats in Ganderbal districts, while Independent candidates bagged 13 seats, BJP and Congress could manage two seats each only.

In Kupwara municipal elections, all 13 seats went to Independent candidates. Similar was the result in the district's Handwara municipal committee also as all 13 seats witnessed the victory of non-BJP and non-Congress candidates.

In Kupwara's Langate municipal committee elections, however, BJP candidates won three seats while rest were bagged by Independent candidates.

The municipal elections were contested by the two national political parties -- BJP and Congress -- and Independent candidates as the dominant state political parties, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party, boycotted the elections over the lack of clarity on Centre's stance on Article 35A.

In total, 52 civic bodies went for polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The polls were held in four phases amid tight security arrangements, covering 79 municipal bodies. A total of 3372 nominations were filed for 1145 wards.

Out of total civic bodies, 27 in the Valley did not go to polls owing either to the fact that there was no candidate or only one candidate had filed nominations for a particular ward.