Deputy CM Tara Chand faces a do-or-die situation in Jammu and Kashmir polls

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and three-time Congress MLA Tara Chand is facing a tough battle this time in his Chhamb seat, bordered with hostile Pakistan, as BJP is trying to capitalise Modi wave coupled by anti-incumbency factor to wrest the seat.

Apart from this, BSP, NC and PDP are threatening to play spoilsport for the Congress' Scheduled Caste face in Jammu and Kashmir.

The seat is going to polls on December 20. Election fever has gripped the border constituency, with top leaders of BJP, Congress and PDP engaged in addressing public rallies, door-to-door campaigns to woo the voters.

Unlike in the past, Tara Chand is facing challenge from BJP candidate Krishen Lal, who apart from considered as an honest and grass-root level leader, is backed by "Modi wave" and anti-incumbency factor.

The Deputy Chief Minister is also facing the ire of the people of over 30 villages, situated along the Indo-Pak border and banks of the Chenab river in Pargwal sector of Chammb, which became the target of heavy Pakistani firing and also were hit by the recent floods forcing them to displace.

They allege that the state government failed to provide them adequate compensation.

The two major elections issues in Pargwal sector, which has a population of nearly 40,000, are cross border firing and floods apart from local development and employment issues.

"We are trying to get back on the track after floods hit us in September and firing displaced us in October. We are yet to get compensation for the damage caused to agriculture land, and properties including house in floods. Our vote will be for change and for government that brings us peace and safety from firing and floods," Surjeet Singh, a farmer in Hamirpur Kona forward belt of Pargwal sector, said.