SRINAGAR, FEB 25: As the adage goes, politics is a game of uncertainties, and the political atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir has heated up with the major parties gearing up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The National Conference (NC) has decided to contest all the seats it had won earlier in the Kashmir division, while its rival, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is yet to open its cards, with speculations rife that party president Mehbooba Mufti could be the candidate for the newly carved Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat.
The NC’s decision to field candidates in all the seats it had previously won is seen as a bold move, reflecting the party’s confidence in retaining its strongholds. Meanwhile, the PDP, which has remained relatively silent so far, is likely to unveil its strategy soon, with sources suggesting that Mehbooba Mufti could be the party’s candidate for the high-stakes Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
The Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, formed after the delimitation exercise, is expected to be a keenly contested battleground, with both the NC and the PDP eyeing a victory in the region. Mehbooba Mufti’s potential candidature from the seat has added an interesting dimension to the electoral dynamics, given her stature as the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and her past representation of the Anantnag constituency in the Lok Sabha.
Political analysts believe that the PDP’s decision to field Mehbooba Mufti in the Anantnag-Rajouri seat could be a strategic move to consolidate the party’s support base in South Kashmir and counter the NC’s offensive. However, the PDP has remained tight-lipped about its plans, leaving political observers and rival parties guessing about its next move.
As the campaign trails heat up and parties finalize their candidates, the people of Jammu and Kashmir are bracing for an intense electoral battle. With the NC’s determination to retain its strongholds and the PDP’s potential surprise moves, the upcoming Lok Sabha elections promise to be a high-stakes affair, where alliances, strategies, and voter sentiments will play a crucial role in shaping the region’s political landscape.
Mehbooba Mufti told party leaders who had called upon Poonch and Rajouri that she would discuss the proposal with senior leaders of the party before taking any final decision in this regard.
While none of the regional or national parties have openly announced any candidature for the six seats of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, behind-the-scenes activities are in full swing among all, watching the developments in others’ camps before their respective candidates’ lists are announced.
It is noteworthy that recently, a JKNC constituent, Shehnaz Ganai, who parted ways from the party to embrace the Saffron camp, is also being seen as a potential BJP candidate for the Rajouri-Anantnag belt. If this particular seat gets women-oriented, whether the NC and Congress will also consider a strong women contender here remains to be seen. As the poll battle heats up, the Rajouri-Anantnag seat is emerging as a crucial battleground, with the PDP workers pushing for Mehbooba Mufti’s candidature, setting the stage for an intense political contest in Kashmir.
