Srinagar, Sep 17 (KNO): With the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections heating up, the focus has turned to four high-profile candidates and constituencies that are expected to shape the electoral landscape.
Out of 24 Assembly seats, voting will be held on 16 seats in the Kashmir Valley and 8 in the Jammu division. Among these, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fielding candidates on 8 seats in Kashmir. However, a keenly contested battle is expected between the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and several other political players.
In addition to these prominent parties, independent candidates and the participation of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders—despite the group being banned—have added further intrigue to the election.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), as the first phase approaches, the spotlight is on four candidates who have drawn considerable attention.
*Iltija Mufti (Bijbehara Constituency)*
In Bijbehara, a triangular contest has emerged between Iltija Mufti of the PDP, Sofi Yusuf of the BJP, and NC’s Bashir Ahmad Shah Veeri. Iltija, daughter of PDP President Mehbooba Mufti and granddaughter of the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, is contesting from her family’s stronghold. This seat holds historical significance, having produced two Chief Ministers, both from the Mufti family. Iltija is making her political debut from Bijbehara, a seat held by the PDP for the last 25 years.
With some areas of Pahalgam now merged into Bijbehara following delimitation, the electoral dynamic has shifted slightly. However, the Mufti family’s legacy, which has dominated the seat since 1996, continues to make this constituency a PDP stronghold.
*Political History of Bijbehara:*
Bijbehara has held Assembly elections and by-elections 9 times since 1967.
The PDP won six of these elections.
The NC won the seat in 1977, 1983, and 1987, with the latter being a narrow victory over the PDP by just 100 votes.
The Mufti family has held the seat continuously since 1996.
Shagun Parihar (Kishtwar Constituency)
Kishtwar is witnessing a tough triangular fight between the BJP, PDP, and NC. The BJP’s candidate, Shagun Parihar, brings a deeply personal connection to the election. In 2018, her father, Ajit Parihar, and her uncle, Anil Parihar, were assassinated by militants. Shagun, who is pursuing a doctorate in electronics, has focused her campaign on peace, security, employment, and women’s empowerment. She faces off against NC-Congress joint candidate Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, a two-time MLA, and PDP’s Firdous Talk.
*Political History of Kishtwar:*
Kishtwar became an Assembly seat in 1962.
The NC has won six times, in 1962, 1977, 1987, 1996, 2002, and 2008.
Congress led the seat in 1967, 1972, and 1983.
The BJP won Kishtwar for the first time in 2014.
Ghulam Ahmed Mir (Dooru Constituency)
Dooru, located in the Anantnag district, is witnessing a fierce multi-party contest. Former Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir is facing strong opposition from PDP’s Ashraf Malik and Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’s Bashir Ahmed Wani.
*Political History of Duru:*
Ghulam Ahmed Mir served as the constituency’s MLA twice, in 2002 and 2008.
The PDP won the seat in 2014 when Syed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi defeated Mir by just 161 votes.
Mohammad Khalil Band (Pulwama Constituency)
Pulwama is set for a highly anticipated showdown between PDP’s Waheed Ur Rehman Parra and former PDP member Mohammad Khalil Band, who is now representing the NC. Band, a founding member of the PDP, has won the Pulwama seat three times in 2002, 2008, and 2014. His defection from the PDP in 2019 adds to the complexity of the contest. Waheed Parra, a young leader recently released from jail, is expected to make this race even more competitive.
*Political History of Pulwama:*
The PDP held the seat from 2002 to 2014.
Mohammad Khalil Band was MLA from Pulwama for three terms.
This time, the PDP has fielded the young leader Waheed Ur Rehman Parra—(KNO)