Srinagar, Sep 17 (KNO): The stage is set for a thrilling contest in the Chanapora constituency, which will go to polls on September 25 as part of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly elections.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the constituency, carved out from Amira Kadal, has seen a decline in voter base from 86,520 in 2014 to 85,431 in 2024. The redrawing of boundaries has shrunk the voter base, making it a tight contest among the main parties.
*Main contesting parties*
The main political parties contesting in the redrawn Chanapora constituency are the Apni Party, People's Democratic Party (PDP), NC-Congress Alliance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Awami National Conference (ANC).
*Constituency demographic profile*
Before the delimitation exercise, the constituency had a voter base of 86,520, with 44,647 males and 41,873 females. Now, with the redrawn boundaries and a new name, the constituency has a total of 85,431 voters, of which 42,556 are male and 42,874 are female voters.
The new constituency has as many as 91 polling stations, most of them in urban areas.
*Poll date*
Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir are poised to be held in three phases. The first phase will be conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on September 18, the second on September 25, and the final phase on October 1. The Chanapora Assembly seat will go to polls in the second phase.
*Result date*
After the conclusion of all three phases, the results for all 90 constituencies, including Chanapora, will be declared on October 8.
*Assembly election 2024 candidates*
As per the pre-poll alliance agreement for seat sharing, the National Conference and Congress have decided to field Mushtaq Guroo.
The Apni Party has fielded its president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, who is considered a favourite candidate.
The PDP has fielded Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo. Tramboo, who has been with the party for a few years, has yet to make a significant impression on Kashmir's political landscape.
The BJP has fielded Hilal Ahmad Wani from the constituency.
Jibran Dar and Sheeban Ashai, who contested in the recently concluded parliamentary polls, are among the independents vying for the legislative membership seat in the Chanapora constituency.
In 2014, Altaf Bukhari, who was in the PDP, won the seat by defeating NC’s Nasir Aslam Wani. Bukhari polled 11,726 votes, while Wani secured 6,385 votes.
The BJP had fielded Dr Hina Shafi Bhat from the constituency, but she managed to secure only 1,359 votes.
A total of 14 nominations were filed from the constituency, of which the security deposits of 12 candidates were forfeited.
*2014 voter turnout*
In 2014, the total number of votes polled in the election (EVM + Postal) was 21,488. The voter turnout in the then Batamaloo constituency was 24.84 percent.
*Political significance*
Political experts say that the Chanapora constituency in the 2024 Jammu & Kashmir assembly elections presents a compelling contest.
They consider Bukhari the frontrunner for the seat, saying that he won the seat in 2014 when it was part of the Amira Kadal constituency. He has strong local recognition and political experience on his side.
According to analysts, Bukhari’s leadership of the Apni Party and his past role as a PDP leader give him significant leverage, and the shrinking electorate and redefined boundaries have only slightly impacted the voter base, which remains largely urban and politically aware.
They, however, said the role of independent candidates like Jibran Dar and Sheeban Ashai should not be underestimated. Their participation, along with other smaller players, has the potential to split votes, especially among those dissatisfied with major party candidates.
Although independents lack the same political machinery as the larger parties, their presence could introduce unpredictability to the election, making them key figures to watch in the upcoming polls—(KNO)