As Rallies End, Baramulla Gears Up for Tri-Cornered Fight

Srinagar, May 17: As the high-pitched campaign rallies and roadshows draw to a close today, Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency in north Kashmir is bracing for an intense three-cornered fight. The constituency has witnessed a massive public turnout, especially at events organized by the sons of imprisoned Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh. With the local heavyweights locking horns, the stage is set for a nail-biting electoral battle that could shape the region’s political landscape in the coming years.

The constituency is bracing up for an interesting contest between jailed leader Er Rasheed, Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah where a total of 11.90 lakh including 6.24 lakh male and 5.66 lakh female are set to cast their ballots in 15 Assembly Segments.

Earlier, a fight was expected between PC’s Sajad Lone and NC’s Omar Abdullah only, but the public support to Er Rashid, who is under incarceration in Tihar Jail for the past several years under an Unlawful activities case has turned the table on the ground and kept people guessing about the actual results and support.
Though NC-Congress, fighting together in Lok Sabha polls from the constituency has won the seat maximum of times, but this time, the political pundits believe that the situation has not remained the same for them as the constituency is no more a cakewalk for the two parties, who have forged pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir.
It has been observed that the two siblings, sons of Er Rashid, supported by the social activists and leaders from different political groups have garnered a huge public support by visiting several places across the north Kashmir constituency.
From Kupwara to Budgam and Baramulla to Bandipora, the duo along with the supporters has seemingly left no area where they have not wooed the voters to cast their ballots in their favor, which has turned the tables for the two candidates, who were vying for the seat and were expecting to give tight competition to each other.
Pertinently, a total of 22 candidates are in the fray including former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah, former minister and Peoples Conference (PC) Chairman Sajjad Gani Lone, former Rajya Sabha member and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mir Fayaz, former Member of Legislative Assembly Engineer Rasheed, Nationalist Peoples Front candidate and separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah’s brother, Muneer Ahmad Khan, and two independent female candidates Suraiya Nissar and Shafeeqa Begum.
Moreover, the rallies and road shows are set to come to an end by today evening as the dry day will be declared by the poll body in the constituency where the people will be casting their ballots on Monday.