Srinagar: A total of 183 candidates have filed their nomination papers across four districts in south Kashmir for the upcoming elections scheduled for September 18, 2024.
According to details obtained by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), in Anantnag district, 72 candidates have filed their nominations, while Pulwama district has 55 candidates. Kulgam and Shopian districts each have 28 candidates.
In Anantnag, several constituencies have multiple candidates. The Dooru Assembly Segment has 12 candidates, including Gh Ahmad Mir, who is backed by the National Conference-Congress alliance. The Kokernag ST Assembly Segment has 11 candidates, while Anantnag West has 14 candidates, including Ab Majeed Bhat Larmi of NC and Ab Gaffar Sofi of PDP.
The main Anantnag seat has 12 candidates, including Mehboob Beigh of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peerzada Mohammad Syed of Congress. In the Bijbehara-Srigufwara constituency, three candidates are in the fray, including Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri of NC, Iltija Mufti of PDP, and Sofi Yousuf of BJP. Anantnag East (Shangus) has 13 candidates, including former Minister Ab Rahman Veeri of PDP and Riyaz Ahmad Khan of NC. The Pahalgam seat has six candidates, including Altaf Ahmad Kaloo of NC, Syed Shabir Siddiqui of PDP, and Rafi Mir of Apni Party.
In Pulwama district, there are 14 candidates for the Pulwama constituency, including Waheed Ur Rehman Para of PDP and Mohammad Khalil Bandh of NC. The Rajpora constituency has 12 candidates, including Gh Mohiudin Mir of NC, Syed Bashir of PDP, and Gh Nabi Niloora of DPAP. The Tral constituency has 13 candidates, including Channi Singh of the NC-Congress alliance, Mohammad Rafiq Naik of PDP, and independent Dr Gh Nabi Bhat. Pampore has 16 candidates, including Justice Husnain Masoodi of NC and Zahoor Ahmad Mir of PDP.
In Kulgam district, the D H Pora constituency has six candidates, including representatives from NC, PDP, Apni Party, and Janta Dal (United). The Kulgam constituency has 11 candidates, including four independents and representatives from various political parties such as the People’s Conference (PC), CPI(M), PDP, and others. In Devsar, several candidates have filed their nominations, including independents and representatives from PDP, NC, Congress, and Apni Party.
In Shopian district, the Shopian constituency has 13 candidates, including Yawar Banday of PDP, Shabir Kullay as an independent, and Sheikh Rafi of NC. The Zainapora constituency has 15 candidates, including Showkat Ganie of NC, Gh Mohiudin Wani of PDP, and independents Aijaz Mir and Sarjan Barkati.
Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a former member of Jamaat-e-Islami, after filing his nomination for the Devsar Assembly constituency, said, “There was a lot of injustice here. Last year, my two nephews were arrested, and despite seeking help from many leaders, no one assisted. At that time, I decided to serve the people. There was fear of rigging in the parliamentary elections, but it didn’t happen, which gave me the courage to contest.”
PDP’s Iltija Mufti expressed her gratitude at being selected by her party, saying, “Today is a very emotional day for me as it marks the beginning of my political journey here, much like Mehboob Ji and Mufti Sahab. I am deeply honoured.”
She added, “The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) was a vision of (PDP President) Mehbooba Mufti, and was also crucial for representing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”—(KNO)
