Jammu, Sep 06 (KNO): The Banihal constituency of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing an intense contest between both the constituents of INDIA alliance, where Congress and National Conference are facing each other in a ‘Friendly’. The polling in the segment scheduled in the first phase on September 18.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), total 1, 26,096 voters of Banihal Constituency will decide the fate of seven competing candidates, while the main battle is between Vikar Rasool Wani of Congress and Sajad Saheen of National Conference.
The segment has 65026 male voters and 61069 are females while one transgender also registered in the electoral list.
The election commission has setup 196 polling stations across the constituency of which just five came under urban category while 189 were in rural areas.
In recently concluded Lok sabha elections, INDI alliance candidate from Congress managed an overwhelming lead of 37820 votes over BJP. Congress party candidate got 48306 votes while BJP managed 10486 votes only. However, in April 2024 during Lok Sabha both NC and Congress fought together but this time facing each other.
Others who are contesting included Mohammad Saleem Bhat of BJP, Imtiaz Ahmed Shan of PDP, Mudssiar Azmat of Aam Aadmi Party, Munazar Ahmed Malik and Bashir Shmed Shan both Independent.
Wani, a former minister in NC –Congress collation and ex JKPCC president represented the constituency as MLA since 2008 for two terms and hoping to strike hat-trick while Sajad Saheen fought with his party high command and compelled the leadership to amend the initial seat sharing formula and close deal with ‘friendly contest’ on some seats including Banihal.
In 2014 despite Modi wave across the country, Vikar Rasool Wani of Congress managed to clinch the seat with 17,671 votes. The runner up was Bashir Ahmed Runyal of the JKPDP party. The margin of victory was 4,349 votes.
In the 2008 elections, Vikar Rasool won with 8,287 votes. The runner up was Showkat Javed of IND party. The margin of victory was 3,033 votes.
Despite pre poll alliance both Congress and NC fielded their candidates for Banihal assembly constituency as both the parties could not come to an agreement and failed to reach a consensus on five assembly seats including on Banihal seat.
However senior party leaders claimed it is a friendly contest on the Banihal seat but the ground situation is different.
Earlier Sangaldan and Gool was part of Gool-Arnas constituency after delimitation in 2022 both Gool and Sangaldan carved out and merged with Banihal assembly constituency—(KNO)