Syed Ali Safvi
JAMMU, Dec 1: With a major chunk of voters having refrained from exercising their franchise in the previous two assembly elections in the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley - particularly in Srinagar district - votes of displaced Pandits of the valley, largely scattered across Jammu region and other parts of India, could hold a key to the outcome of the ongoing elections.
A good partici
pation of Kashmiri Pandits in the electoral process could have a drastic impact on the outcome in many assembly segments of the valley. Srinagar district, which goes to polls in the seventh and last phase of elections, could feel the maximum ripples.
The entire Srinagar district has had a huge impact of election boycott calls in the past, and the trend is likely to persist this time also in the wake of Kashmir Coordination Committee's (KCC's) election boycott call. Post 1996, Srinagar district has always witnessed very insignificant turnout in the elections. All the eight constituencies of Srinagar district witnessed less than 10 per cent of total voter turnout in 2002 assembly elections. Amirakadal (3.06%), Batmalloo (4%), Sonawar (9.96%), Habbakadal (3.21%), Khanyar (4.22%), Idgah (4.74%), Zadibal (4.78%), Hazratbal (7.21%). Interestingly, the district accounts for 23,796 migrant votes, which could hold the key to the outcome.
However, participation of migrated KPs in the elections in the past had not been significant enough to turn the tide in their favour. But this time they all seem g
eared up to make some inroads. For the first time, more than two dozen candidates belonging to migrated Kashmiri Pandit community are trying their luck in the elections this time from their 'original' home constituencies. If the turnout in the valley, particularly in Srinagar district, remains as abysmal as in two previous assembly elections, some of them could easily throw a surprise.
Earlier in November, the Kashmiri Pandits formed a political party, Jammu Kashmir National United Front (JKNUF) to throw their hats into the election ring. According to sources, as many as 14 candidates of the party are contesting from different assembly constituencies across the state. JKNUF candidate, Rakesh Handoo, would contest against NC patron and the former chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah from Hazratbal. Besides the JKNUF, there are 18 other Kashmir Pandit candidates, most of them independent, in the fray.
According to figures provided by the state Chief Election Commission (CEC), there are a total number of 72,793 Kashmiri migrant voters who are largely concentrated in Jammu region, Delhi, Chandigarh and Ban
galore. Habbakadal alone has a staggering 13,302 migrant votes, followed by Bijbehara (4003), Amirakadal (3058), Anantnag (2882), Batamaloo (2840), Kupwara (2731), Devsar (2581), Handwara (2528), Kokernag (2374), Kulgam (2284), and Hazratbal (1933).
Realising the significance of migrant electors, other political parties also have started to woo the migrant voters. BJP - which has never won a seat in Kashmir region - has given mandate to a Kashmiri Pandit, Hira Lal Chatta from Habbakadal assembly segment and is hopeful of breaking the jinx this time. Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Forum (JKPDF) has also decided to field a Kashmiri Pandit from Amirakadal assembly segment as the party candidate.
"Our party will field candidates from all the eight assembly constituencies in Srinagar," the PDF president, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen told Kashmir Times, adding that the party would give mandate to a Kashmiri Pandit from Amirakadal assembly segment. According to sources, 10 Pandit candidates are in the fray from Habba Kadal assembly segment, which include Hira Lal Chatta (BJP), former legislator Raman Matoo (ind), K Madan (BSP), Sanjay Saraf (LJP), J K Shakdar (JKDP-N), and R K Koul (BSP-S). Two Pandit candidates - Shiban Dudha (PDF) and Prakshit Koul (BJP) - are contesting from Amirakadal assembly segment. Sonwar, Hazratbal, Islamabad and Sopur also have its share of Pandit candidates. Rakesh (JKNUF), Sanjay Kachroo (BJP), Vijay Chicken (JKNUF) and Rajender Handoo (independent) are contesting from Hazratbal, Sonwar, Sopur and Islamabad constituencies respectively.
http://www.kashmirtimes.com/
JAMMU, Dec 1: With a major chunk of voters having refrained from exercising their franchise in the previous two assembly elections in the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley - particularly in Srinagar district - votes of displaced Pandits of the valley, largely scattered across Jammu region and other parts of India, could hold a key to the outcome of the ongoing elections.
A good partici
pation of Kashmiri Pandits in the electoral process could have a drastic impact on the outcome in many assembly segments of the valley. Srinagar district, which goes to polls in the seventh and last phase of elections, could feel the maximum ripples. The entire Srinagar district has had a huge impact of election boycott calls in the past, and the trend is likely to persist this time also in the wake of Kashmir Coordination Committee's (KCC's) election boycott call. Post 1996, Srinagar district has always witnessed very insignificant turnout in the elections. All the eight constituencies of Srinagar district witnessed less than 10 per cent of total voter turnout in 2002 assembly elections. Amirakadal (3.06%), Batmalloo (4%), Sonawar (9.96%), Habbakadal (3.21%), Khanyar (4.22%), Idgah (4.74%), Zadibal (4.78%), Hazratbal (7.21%). Interestingly, the district accounts for 23,796 migrant votes, which could hold the key to the outcome.
However, participation of migrated KPs in the elections in the past had not been significant enough to turn the tide in their favour. But this time they all seem g
eared up to make some inroads. For the first time, more than two dozen candidates belonging to migrated Kashmiri Pandit community are trying their luck in the elections this time from their 'original' home constituencies. If the turnout in the valley, particularly in Srinagar district, remains as abysmal as in two previous assembly elections, some of them could easily throw a surprise. Earlier in November, the Kashmiri Pandits formed a political party, Jammu Kashmir National United Front (JKNUF) to throw their hats into the election ring. According to sources, as many as 14 candidates of the party are contesting from different assembly constituencies across the state. JKNUF candidate, Rakesh Handoo, would contest against NC patron and the former chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah from Hazratbal. Besides the JKNUF, there are 18 other Kashmir Pandit candidates, most of them independent, in the fray.
According to figures provided by the state Chief Election Commission (CEC), there are a total number of 72,793 Kashmiri migrant voters who are largely concentrated in Jammu region, Delhi, Chandigarh and Ban
galore. Habbakadal alone has a staggering 13,302 migrant votes, followed by Bijbehara (4003), Amirakadal (3058), Anantnag (2882), Batamaloo (2840), Kupwara (2731), Devsar (2581), Handwara (2528), Kokernag (2374), Kulgam (2284), and Hazratbal (1933). Realising the significance of migrant electors, other political parties also have started to woo the migrant voters. BJP - which has never won a seat in Kashmir region - has given mandate to a Kashmiri Pandit, Hira Lal Chatta from Habbakadal assembly segment and is hopeful of breaking the jinx this time. Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Forum (JKPDF) has also decided to field a Kashmiri Pandit from Amirakadal assembly segment as the party candidate.
"Our party will field candidates from all the eight assembly constituencies in Srinagar," the PDF president, Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen told Kashmir Times, adding that the party would give mandate to a Kashmiri Pandit from Amirakadal assembly segment. According to sources, 10 Pandit candidates are in the fray from Habba Kadal assembly segment, which include Hira Lal Chatta (BJP), former legislator Raman Matoo (ind), K Madan (BSP), Sanjay Saraf (LJP), J K Shakdar (JKDP-N), and R K Koul (BSP-S). Two Pandit candidates - Shiban Dudha (PDF) and Prakshit Koul (BJP) - are contesting from Amirakadal assembly segment. Sonwar, Hazratbal, Islamabad and Sopur also have its share of Pandit candidates. Rakesh (JKNUF), Sanjay Kachroo (BJP), Vijay Chicken (JKNUF) and Rajender Handoo (independent) are contesting from Hazratbal, Sonwar, Sopur and Islamabad constituencies respectively.
http://www.kashmirtimes.com/
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