Three-Way Tussle: Anantnag Seat Up for Grabs

Abid Ahmad
Srinagar, Sep 10: The political temperature in South Kashmir’s Anantnag assembly constituency is heating up as three major parties—National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—gear up for a fierce triangular contest in the upcoming elections on September 18.

The PDP has fielded its general secretary and former minister, Dr. Mehboob Beg, as its candidate. Dr. Beg, a seasoned politician, will face off against Peerzada Mohammad Saeed, a joint candidate of NC and Congress, and BJP’s Saeed Peerzada Wajahat Hussain, who has added an interesting twist to the competition.
Anantnag’s constituency, comprising 61,070 voters, has historically swung between the PDP and NC, making it a coveted seat. Despite being a critical seat in South Kashmir, no single party has consistently held sway over the constituency, which has now seen 13 candidates entering the fray—none of whom are women, despite nearly equal numbers of male and female voters (30,645 male and 30,425 female).
In 2014, PDP’s founder, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, won the seat with a commanding 51% vote share. Congress followed with 33%, while NC lagged behind at 7%. The BJP, which only secured 4% of votes in the last election, is trying to improve its standing this time by fielding a fresh face.
Dr. Mehboob Beg, PDP’s candidate, brings significant political experience as both a former minister and Member of Parliament. Congress veteran Peerzada Mohammad Saeed, who previously contested from Kokernag before the constituency’s reservation for Scheduled Castes, is also a prominent figure in the race. Meanwhile, Apni Party has thrown its hat into the ring by nominating Hilal Ahmed Shah, a former Congress leader, further adding to the competition.
Residents of Anantnag, eager to vote after a 10-year gap in assembly elections, are focused on pressing local issues such as deteriorating roads, rising electricity bills, and the absence of a district hospital. The region, known for its large-scale cultivation of walnuts, apples, and paddy, has seen some improvements, such as upgraded facilities in government medical colleges and widened rural roads, but locals are eager for more significant development, including better infrastructure, employment opportunities for youth, and a sports stadium.