JAMMU, Dec 28: Election results have sprung many a surprise. The verdict has revealed, among other things, an apparent divide between rural and urban Kashmir. The city populace has preferred to vote in favour of National Conference (NC) candidates.
The party has made a clean sweep of the eight constituencies in Srinagar. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on other hand made a clean sweep of Shopian and Pulwama districts winning all the six seats. The party managed to win six of the ten seats in Anantnag and Kulgam districts.
Srinagarites spearheaded the agitation during Amarnath land row. Their resentment against Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the controversial Amarnath land transfer seems to have got converted into votes in favour of NC.
Considered to be a separatist bastion, Srinagar recorded 20 per cent polling in the last leg of the staggered seven-phase assembly elections. In 2002 assembly elections, all the eight constituencies of Srinagar district witnessed less than 10 per cent of total voter turnout. Amirakadal (3.06%), Batmalloo (4%), Sonawar (9.96%), Habbakadal (3.21%), Khanyar (4.22%), Idgah (4.74%), Zadibal (4.78%), Hazratbal (7.21%).
Moreover, the heavy voter turnout in rural areas greatly sharpened the nascent rural-urban divide. In the rural areas, voters came out in large numbers to cast their votes, while a major chunk of urbanites boycotted the polls in response to the election boycott call given by separatists.
In a major setback to PDP, former finance minister and senior PDP leader, Tariq Hameed Qarra lost to NC political debutant Irfan Shah from Batamaloo assembly segment. Former chief minister and NC patron, Farooq Abdullah won from both the constituencies of Hazratbal and Sonawar.
Mubarak Gul (NC), Ali Muhammad Sagar retained Idgah and Khanyar seats, respectively. NC's Shameema Firdous won from Habbakadal assembly segment, while NC's another political debutante Peer Afaq Ahmad emerged victorious from Zadibal constituency. Amirakadal seat went to Naseer Ahmad Wani.
NC had bagged five seats from Srinagar in 2002 assembly elections, while two went to independents and one to Congress.
Former chief minister and PDP patron, Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was elected from Anantnag assembly segment. Mufti defeated NC provincial president Mehboob Beg Mufti's daughter and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti emerged victorious from Wanchi.
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