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The first phase of assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir commenced on Wednesday, marking the first time in a decade that voters in the region will be able to choose their representatives. With over 23 lakh electors set to cast their ballots, the outcome of this first phase will set the tone for the overall electoral landscape in the region. A total of 219 candidates, including a significant number of independents, are vying for 24 seats across seven districts, split between the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley.
The first phase saw voting taking place in eight assembly segments in three districts of the Jammu region and 16 seats in four districts of the Kashmir valley. These districts, located on either side of the Pir Panjal mountain range, have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to participate in an assembly election after a decade of absence. The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements for smooth polling, setting up 3,276 polling stations manned by a workforce of 14,000 polling staff.
The first phase of elections witnessed several high-profile contests, with prominent figures from various political parties vying for victory. Among them are Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami of the CPI (M), AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Sakina Itoo of the National Conference (NC), and PDP leaders Sartaj Madni and Abdul Rehman Veeri. The contest in Srigufwara-Bijbehara, part of the Rajouri-Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, saw a triangular battle between Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti, NC's Bashir Ahmad Veeri, and Sofi Mohammad Yousuf of the BJP.
In the Pulwama assembly segment, the contest was especially heated, featuring PDP youth wing leader Waheed Para against his former party colleague Mohammad Khalil Bandh, now contesting on the NC ticket. Further adding to the complexity of this contest was the entry of a former member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami, Talat Majid Alie. A similar situation unfolded in the Kulgam assembly segment, where Tarigami faced off against Sayar Ahmad Reshi, another former member of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. The BJP and Congress, dominant forces in Jammu, saw their candidates including former ministers Sajjad Kitchloo (NC), Khalid Najid Suharwardy (NC), Vikar Rasool Wani (Congress), Abdul Majid Wani (DPAP), Sunil Sharma (BJP), Shakti Raj Parihar (Doda west), and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, a three-time MLA contesting as an independent after being denied a ticket by the DPAP.
Other prominent candidates in the fray include former MLA Daleep Singh Parihar (BJP), former MLC Firdous Tak and Imtiyaz Shan (PDP), NC's Pooja Thakur, sitting chairperson of district development council Kishtwar, the BJP's young face Shagun Parihar, whose father and uncle were killed by terrorists in 2018, and Mehraj din Malik of AAP. Despite being in alliance, NC and the Congress fielded candidates in Banihal, Bhaderwah, and Doda for a 'friendly contest'. The presence of rebel candidates further complicated the electoral landscape, with Pyare Lal Sharma contesting as an independent from Inderwal and two BJP rebels, Rakesh Goswami and Suraj Singh Parihar, vying for victory in Ramban and Padder-Nagseni constituencies respectively.
The outcome of this first phase of elections is highly anticipated, as it will provide crucial insights into the overall electoral trends in Jammu and Kashmir. The contests in various segments, especially those featuring prominent leaders and rebel candidates, will be closely watched. The political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir has undergone significant changes over the past decade, and these elections are expected to reflect those changes as voters express their choices and shape the future of the region.