Srinagar: A battle is expected mainly between the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the fifth phase of polling scheduled for tomorrow in Jammu and Kashmir that would decide the fate of, among others, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti.

Six constituencies in Pulwama and Shopian districts in the Kashmir Valley and five constituencies of Kathua district in Jammu division go to polls.

The six constituencies in the Valley are Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora of Pulwama district in south Kashmir and Wachi and Shopian of Shopian district. The five constituencies in the Jammu region are: Kathua, Hira Nagar, Basholi, Bani, Billawar in Kathua district.

There are 179 candidates in the fray - 73 in Pulwama district, 40 in Shopian district and 66 candidates in Kathua.

Shopian and Tral have 21 candidates each, the maximum number of contestants for any constituency going to polls tomorrow.

Strongholds

Besides the NC and PDP, the two major political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, the others in the fray are the Congress, the Panthers' Party, the Awami National Conference (ANC), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), Communist Party of India (CPI), besides some Independents or unattached contestants. Pulwama and Shopian districts are considered strongholds of the PDP. NC leaders have been campaigning aggressively against the PDP in south Kashmir targeting mainly PDP president Mehbooba Mufti and her father, former chief minister and party patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

All eyes are on the Wachi constituency from where Mehbooba Mufti is pitched against Mohammad Khalil Naik (CPM), who is seeking re-election, and Showkat Ahmad (NC). Though there are 17 other candidates, the contest in expected to be mainly among the three.

Independents

In the Shopian constituency, Abdul Razak (PDP), Shabir Ahmad (NC) and Gulam Hassan Khan, an Independent, are the main contestants. Gulshana Parveen of the Samajwadi Party is also contesting there.

Khan had won the seat in 2002 elections on PDP ticket, but this time he is fighting as an independent after being denied the PDP mandate.

Election: Contest for 11 seats

Number of voters: 839,982Number of women voters: 405,289Number of male voters: 434,693 Total candidates: 179Women candidates: 5Constituency with most candidates: Tral and Shopian Constituency with least candidates: Basohli Major parties in fray: Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, People's Democratic Party, National Conference and Bahujan Samaj PartyTotal Polling stations: 1,154Number of electronic voting machines: 1,758