Srinagar, Sep 04 (KNO): Central Shalteng, one of the 90 constituencies in Jammu & Kashmir, will witness a contest in the second phase of the assembly elections.
Constituency Profile
Central Shalteng, situated on the northern outskirts of Srinagar, includes areas such as HMT, Zainakote, Kushipora, Maloora, Panzinara, Mujgund, Bemina, parts of Batamaloo and Chatabal, Aramapora, Qamarwari, Parimpora, Barthana, Mandi, Shalteng, Abanshah, Rambairgarh and Pratapgarh.
Previously known as Batamaloo, the constituency's boundaries were redrawn during the 2022 delimitation exercise, leading to its new name and adjusted boundaries.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the voter base in the constituency has changed with the delimitation. The constituency now has 107,770 voters, including 54,185 males and 53,576 females, with 9 transgender voters. There are 114 polling stations, primarily in urban areas.
Election dates
The assembly elections will be held in three phases: The first phase (September 18), the second phase (September 25 – Central Shalteng will vote in this phase), and the final phase (October 1).
The results for all constituencies, including Central Shalteng, will be announced on October 8.
Candidates and parties
National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance
Tariq Hamid Karra, a former Parliamentarian and now the J&K Congress chief, will represent the alliance.
Karra used to have a very strong grassroots connection in the constituency, and he is also believed to be the man behind the introduction of Noor Mohammad Sheikh into mainstream politics, who later on won the 2014 assembly elections from the Batamaloo constituency.
However, after August 05, 2019, Karra’s presence among the masses and in the media had scaled down, which affected his connection on the ground.
It will be interesting to see how the J&K Congress president rediscovers the connection with his followers during the campaign, as the battle to win the assembly elections for him too won’t be a cakewalk.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
Abdul Qayoom Bhat, who has been with the party for several years but has yet to make a significant impact in the redrawn constituency, is the PDP's candidate.
Awami Ittehad Party (AIP)
Led by Engineer Rashid, AIP has fielded Adil Hussain, a relatively unknown figure in both the constituency and the broader Kashmiri political landscape.
Apni Party
Zaffar Habib Dar, a former Hurriyat activist who recently joined mainstream politics, is the Apni Party's candidate. His previous affiliations could influence voter sentiment.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
BJP’s strategy and candidate choice will be crucial, given the party’s ambitions in the region. The party has yet to announce its candidate.
Historical Context
In the 2014 assembly elections, the Batamaloo seat was won by PDP's Noor Mohammad Sheikh, who secured 12,542 votes against NC's Irfan Shah, who received 8,215 votes. Abdul Qayoom Bhat, now the PDP candidate, contested on the JK DPN ticket in 2014 and received 1,409 votes.
2014 Voter Turnout:
In 2014, the total number of votes polled in the election (EVM+ Postal) was 29,380. The voter turnout in the then Batamaloo constituency was 14.73 per cent.
Political Significance
Political analysts view the newly formed Central Shalteng constituency as a reflection of broader political shifts in Jammu & Kashmir.
The mix of seasoned politicians and new entrants adds to the unpredictability of the results, making Central Shalteng a key constituency to watch in the upcoming elections—(KNO)