Pulwama, Sep 13 (KNO): As the first phase of the Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections approaches, the Anantnag East assembly segment in south Kashmir is set for a highly competitive race. This seat is expected to witness a tight contest between Ab Rehman Veeri of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Riyaz Ahmad Khan of the National Conference (NC).
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Veeri, a former minister and four-time MLA from Bijbehara, is contesting from the Anantnag East assembly segment for the first time.
Political analysts highlight Veeri’s extensive work on community-based projects in his previous constituency, which has earned him significant support. Many villages from the Bijbehara segment are now part of Anantnag East, which is seen as an advantage for Veeri. His strong connections across south Kashmir are expected to help him secure a substantial share of votes.
On the other hand, Riyaz Ahmad Khan, a long-time NC associate, has a solid party base in the region and is a formidable contender. According to analysts, Khan has been actively campaigning with strong party backing, which positions him as a key rival to Veeri.
The contest is primarily between Veeri and Khan, with other candidates potentially influencing the vote percentages of the main contenders. The voter base from former Bijbehara and Pahalgam constituencies will be crucial in this segment.
Historical voting data for the Shangus constituency, which overlaps with Anantnag East, shows the following trends:
2014: Gulzar Ahmad Wani (Indian National Congress) won with 21,085 votes, while Peerzada Mansoor Hussain (PDP) received 18,896 votes, losing by 2,189 votes.
2008: Peerzada Mansoor Hussain (PDP) won with 13,853 votes, while Gulzar Ahmad Wani (Indian National Congress) secured 12,423 votes, losing by 1,430 votes.
2002: Peer Mohd Hussain (PDP) won with 5,115 votes, while Gulzar Ahmad (Indian National Congress) received 4,774 votes, losing by 341 votes.
Historically, this seat was represented by Gulzar Ahmad Wani in 2014, who later joined DPAP; Peerzada Mansoor Hussain (PDP) in 2008; Peer Mohd Hussain (PDP) in 2002; and Abdul Majeed (NC) in 1996.
For the AC 46-Shangus-Anantnag East constituency, a total of 100,902 voters (50,656 males and 50,246 females) are registered. There are 127 polling stations established, including 19 urban and 108 rural stations—(KNO)