Jammu and Kashmir is heading into the first phase of Assembly polls today with seven districts on either side of the Pir Panjal mountain range, set to vote for the first time in an Assembly election in 10 years. Over 23 lakh voters will decide the fate of 219 candidates, including 90 independents, who are running for 24 Assembly segments. Prominent candidates in fray in Kashmir Valley include CPI (M)’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, who is seeking a fifth consecutive term from the Kulgam segment. AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir is hoping for a third term from Dooru, PDP’s Sartaj Madni (Devsar) and Abdul Rehman Veeri from Shangus-Anantnag in South Kashmir. However, Srigufwara-Bijbehara and Pulwama Assembly segments where PDP’s Iltija Mufti and Waheed Para are contesting polls, respectively, will get the maximum attention.
Indications suggest that unlike in the past, people will freely exercise their franchise. There has been no boycott call which stigmatized the exercise earlier and interrupted the spontaneous participation. No longer. For once, people feel invested in the electoral process. The election holds interesting possibilities for the union territory. The National Conference hopes to secure a majority of its own or atleast emerge as the largest single party. The BJP expects to repeat the 2014 performance. However, there are no signs so far of any political wave in favour of any party.
There are signs that people in Jammu are upset with the saffron party over the restoration of statehood but also over the legal and administrative changes that are seen as unfavourable to Jammu. Would this resentment reflect in the election outcome is anybody’s guess. It is possible that the newly rejuvenated Congress under Rahul Gandhi would once again make inroads into Jammu and undercut the BJP. In that case, the BJP would no longer be able to assert a role in the future elected government.
That said, in the Valley, the NC could face a tough challenge from the PDP, which remains relevant and also from Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party. Rashid’s party has entered into an alliance with the independents contesting on behalf of Jamaat-i-Islami. This is expected to cut votes and may be even benefit the two parties. The parties like People’s Conference and the Apni Party may yet get a seat or two. But for an election that truly gives people a sense of involvement and empowerment, it has to be free and fair. And today’s voting will make it clear to one and all.
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