With the dawn of November 25, Bandipora district overlooked by Razdan pass will witness first phase polling in its three assembly segments. While it seems bilateral in Bandipora town, the contest appears trilateral in Sonawari and Gurez segments. With polling round the corner, Shah Abbas reports the mood of polling in three segments of Jhelum Valley
Known for three A’s: Alim (Knowledge), Adab (respect) and Aab (water), Bandipora district (of the erstwhile Baramulla district) will be polling in the first phase of assembly election on November 25. On poll fray are three assembly segments of this part of north Kashmir bounded by towering peaks on three sides and Wullar Lake on the fourth.
Three incumbent lawmakers of Bandipora, Gurez and Sonawari assembly segments are facing stiff resistance from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Conference (NC) and an Ikhwani-turned-politician in scheduled November polls. Though the defending players argue on the principal of “sitting is getting,” yet, they know: it is cakewalk for none.
PDP’s Nizam-ud-din Bhat and incumbent MLA Bandipora is pitted against Congress’s Usman Majid. While Bhat is toiling hard to secure his second assembly berth, Majid seems equally ambitious to repeat his 2002 feat.
Last time when Bandipora went for polls, Bhat emerged victorious defeating Majid by a margin of 820 votes. Bhat polled 13051 votes against Majid’s 12231. In 2008, Bandipora polled like never before, recording a poll percentage of 57.07.
Now six years down the line, Majid (so far playing second fiddle in his constituency) is eyeing to break the jinx. In 2002 elections, people had voted Majid to assembly on the ticket of Kuka Parray’s Awami League. (Parray was former renegade-turned-politician who engineered a mass surrender of militants and eventually helped the Indian Army to nab militancy.)
Majid eventually rose up to become state minister in 2002 PDP-Congress coalition. But after Parray was killed by militants in 2003, Majid became Parray’s last ‘flag-bearer’. In fact, Majid survived a life attempt in 2005 after a bomb blast ripped apart a car in Srinagar.
While the former scribe-turned-lawmaker (Bhat) is offering “development” and “dignity” in lieu of votes, Majid rebuffs him, saying: Being an MLA, Bhat ignored Bandipora. “Both have a strong following in the area,” says a local lawyer, “but yes, their fate would be known on December 23 once counting takes place.”
Just for a name, the lawyer continues, democracy is in place in Bandipora and election is its process. “But the fact of the matter is,” he says, “many players haven’t changed their true colours after donning the attire of politics, thus still creating, a sense of insecurity around. So, don’t quote me for my comment.”
In a
busy Bandipora bazaar, one tea stall owner is echoing the lawyer’s concern. Apart from fear-factor, he candidly asserts: there are areas where Bhat has an edge over Majid due to his large support group. “Similarly,” he continues, “Majid has an influence over some pockets in Bandipora. So for me, it is an open contest.”
Far from the maddening crowd of Bandipora bazaar, one town boy studying in Kashmir University believes, the poll behaviour of Bandipora would determine the overall poll results. “It is a direct contest between Bhat and Majid,” asserts Mohammad Amin, a varsity’s student from Bandipora.
Amin rules out any chances of NC’s Mohammad Abdullah Wani, Peoples Conference’s Mohammad Ismail Bhat, BJP’s Abdul Rahman Thikree and another eight candidates in fray from Bandipora. “Others will end up fragment votes,” Amin continues. The ‘others’ including Javid Ahmed Shah (BSP), Mohammad Iqbal Zargar (All India Forward Bloc), Manzoor Ahmad Baba (All J&K Kisan Mazdor Party), Sheikh Waseem Bari (Independent), Ghulam Ahmad Bhat (Independent), Mohammad Shafi Khan (Independent), Prof Mohammad Shafi Mir (Independent) and Nazir Ahmad Malik (Independent).
The focus areas for November 25 polls in Bandipora would be Nadihal, Garora, Sumlar, Arina, Papechan, Bunekote, Kaloosa and Chattibandi, as per their track-record. “And that is why perhaps both Bhat and Majid are attempting hard to woo voters from these areas,” Amin concludes.
Besides Bandipora, the once Ikhwan-bastion (Sonawari) would be also polling in the first phase. But before polls, the word of the mouth is: Ikhwan angle will have an impact on poll process in the segment.
Pitted against NC’s education minister (Mohammad Akbar Lone), PDP’s businessman-turned-politician (Yasir Reshi) might mar Lone’s hat-trick from the seat. But they aren’t only two face-to-face in a contest. Also in the fray is Kuka Parray’s progeny Imtyaz Ahmad Parray. Contesting on Congress ticket, the junior Parray finished on third spot in 2008 elections.
In last elections when Sonawari wasn’t apparently brewing in ‘resentment and rage’ against NC man known for his wordplay, Lone had sailed smooth defeating his close rival Abid Ansari by a huge margin of 12217 votes. While Lone polled 20168; Abid ended up with 7951 votes. Brother of late PDP leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Abid then contested as an independent candidate.
After Abid secured PDP’s Zadibal ticket for the upcoming polls, the decks have been cleared for home-grown Reshi to stand against Lone and Parray. With this the contest has become trilateral in Sonawari.
But before Lone, Reshi and Parray Jr made the contest trilateral; the poll show was the baby of the government gunman Mohammad Yusuf Parray alias Kuka Parray in Sonawari. On the onset of 1996 polls, the Ikhwan founder floated his political wing J&K Awami League and successfully contested 1996 elections from his bastion. It was the time when Bandipora district was gripped with renegade rule. “That was the time when everybody would tilt towards Ikhwanis for saving their skin,” says a retired headmaster from Sonawari. Six years after, when 2002 polls began, six Ikhwanis were in the contest.
Over the years Ikhwan influence has waned over the area, but the notorious tag of yesteryears is reluctant to fade out. “We are still branded as Ikhwanis,” continues the headmaster.
Now when the constituency is gearing for polls again in later part of November, it is PDP’s Reshi who seems enthusiastic to “create ripples” in the NC camp. But still apparently down with parliamentary poll defeat, NC is upbeat for Lone’s hat-trick.
But mostly known for his peculiar body language than his politics, Lone is apparently standing on sticky wicket this time around. The talk of the town is: Lone may feel alone; not a cakewalk for him in Sonwari. “There is no doubt about the fact that NC is facing a stiff competition in Sonwari,” believes one Idrees Ali, a Hajin resident. “Reshi has a clear edge over Lone.”
In case of poll boycott, Ali fears, the poll result will get affected. “You see,” he says, ‘there are certain pockets in Sonawari where most of the electors prefer to stay out of the election process.” But if they decided to vote this time around, he believes, the final result will be entirely different.
Amid this scenario, Lone is wooing voters akin to BJP by promising “development”. Reshi is merely echoing his party poll-cry—that is “change”. While keeping it simple, Parray Jr isn’t ranting around; rather focussing on poll resource pockets, which many believe can flip his fortunes.
The immediate focus areas for the trio are Naidkhai, Safapora, Surgam, Shadipora, Nesbal, Saderkote and others where it is believed that votes would be cast in good numbers.
Other than Lone, Reshi and Parray, four other candidates in fray, including Panthers Party’s Ghulam Rasool Malik, PC’s Qawamudin Sheikh, and Independent Ghulam Mohammad Parray and Nazir Ahmad Wani.
On the other side of Razdan pass, the picturesque Gurez valley is also getting ready for poll show in the first phase. Many say, NC man and incumbent minister in Omar’s cabinet, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) has an upper hand over his rivals including PDP’s Mohammad Ismail Lone, Congress’s Faqir Mohammad Khan and Independent Ghulam Rasool Bhat.
But Gurezi’s detractors are saying, Gurezi shouldn’t keep himself in a good humour by assuming his win-win situation. Congress’s Faqir and PDP’s Lone equally stand their chances too. “So therefore, it is a clear trilateral contest,” says Gulab Khan, a resident of Dawar.
In last elections, Faqir tasted defeat at the hands of Gurezi by a small margin of just 732 votes. While Gurezi secured 5817; Faqir polled 5085. But now, tables have turned for Faqir in 2014. In some pockets, he is neck-to-neck with Gurezi.
The incumbent minister of State for PHE, Gurezi has already completed his hat-trick winning all elections from Gurez since 1996. But PDP after making swift inroads in the belt is likely to give stiff competition to Gurezi.
“PDP has succeeded in building its cadres in this mountainous region, but NC still has its strong base in place,” says a local Hakim-ullah. “Faqir and Lone are in equal contest against Gurezi and a little margin will decide about the Gurez assembly segment this time around.”
The poll winds are blowing across Razdan Pass in Bandipora district. When ballot would be put to count on December 23, chances are: Bhat, Lone and Gurezi might be shown door. New three entrants might represent Bandipora district in state assembly. Amid possibility, prediction and prognosis, fingers have been crossed. Indeed, the poll fever has begun.
