The first phase of Assembly elections, which are being held after a gap of 10 years, will witness an interesting contest as a terror victim, a J&K Congress ex-chief and many former ministers will be part of the electoral battle on Wednesday in the Jammu division.
Eight seats in three districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban, also loosely defined as Chenab Valley, will go to polls besides other constituencies in the Kashmir region. The voters are expected to cast their votes keeping in view the factors related to development, employment, and Article 370, which is one the of most important issues to have featured in the speeches of political leaders.
The Inderwal constituency in Kishtwar will witness an interesting contest between BJP’s Taraq Hussain Keen, Congress candidate Mohd Zafarullah and three-time MLA from the seat GM Saroori, who is contesting as an Independent. Saroori was denied the ticket by the DPAP, following which he filed his nomination as an Independent, but if insiders are to be believed, he is going without the party backing to remove the tag of BJP’s proxy.
The Kishtwar constituency is also witnessing a neck-to-neck contest between a terror victim Shagun Parihar of the BJP — whose father and uncle were killed by terrorists in 2018 — and NC’s Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, who is also a former minister. PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have campaigned for Parihar.
Another contest is brewing up in the Banihal constituency of Ramban, where a ‘friendly’ contest is being witnessed between the alliance partners, NC and Congress.
The Congress candidate and former president of J&K Congress, Vikar Rasool Wani, is facing NC’s Sajad Shaheen in the area. Over a week ago, Wani had made some comments against NC that had gone viral on social media, after which even Omar Abdullah retaliated and gave a statement against Wani. Wani had won from the area twice in 2008 and 2014.
Even in Bhaderwah of Doda district, the NC and Congress have fielded their candidates. The NC has fielded Sheikh Mehboob Iqbal while Congress has fielded Nadeem Sharief.
In Padder-Nagseni of Kishtwar, BJP ex-minister Sunil Sharma is facing District Development Council Chairman and NC nominee Pooja Thakur. Both leaders have major following in their respective areas.
DPAP chief Ghulam Nabi Azad used to have an influence in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban. He recently returned for campaigning after undergoing treatment in New Delhi. Four candidates of DPAP from the three districts had withdrawn their nomination from the poll process. Only Abdul Ghani from Doda West and Abdul Majid Wani from Doda constituency are contesting now.
