Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat: Now BJP’s turn to open its card.Mehbooba Mufti Mian Altaf and Gulam Nabi Azad 

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD

Only constituency in J&K falls in both divisions; neck & neck fight for parties.

RAJOURI, APRIL 07:–Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency, a newly carved out constituency following the re-mapping of electoral boundaries by Delimitation Commission, is the only constituency that falls in both Kashmir & Jammu provinces.
As this constituency is already in the limelight for having electoral from Rajouri, Poonch (in Jammu province), Anantnag, Kulgam and parts of Shopian districts (in Kashmir province), the country will also see a very close contest between top leadership of National Conference (NC), People Democratic Party (PDP), BJP, J&K Apni Party, and newly formed Democratic Azad Party (DPAP) by Glam Nabi Azad.
To date Congress has decided not to field its candidate and will extend support to the NC candidate under INDI alliance.
As was expected, PDP on Sunday announced that Chairperson & former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti as its candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat.
A post on X reads; “Party’s Parliamentary Board has announced the candidatures of PDP President @MehboobaMufti for Anantnag-Pir Panchal, Youth Wing President @parawahid for Central Kashmir and former MP @FayazMiroffice for Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency,”.
For Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat NC already has announced Mian Altaf as its candidate, DPAP decided to field its chairman & former Chief Minister, Gulam Nabi Azad the party while Apni Party’s Zaffar Iqbal Manhas will contest from this constituency.
Now, it is time for the BJP leadership to open its card as the people of J&K in general and Rajouri & Poonch in particular are eagerly waiting for a BJP candidate.
According to reports, the BJP top leadership was waiting for the announcement of the PDP candidate.
Now with the announcement of Mehbooba Mufti as PDP candidate, the fight on this seat has not only been interesting but challenging too.
The division of votes between NC, PDP, DPAP is likely to have an edge for BJP and it is expected either BJP will rely on its fire brand leader Ravinder Raina, BJP State president or it will support Gulam Nabi Azad’s candidature.
Being Anantnag-Rajouri only constituency that falls in both the divisions (Kashmir & Jammu), the candidates will face tough time to accommodate the aspirations of both the communities in their electoral agenda because of vast cultural difference,
division between Paharis, Gujjars & Bakerwals (after ST Status for Pahari speaking people).
The winning of Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat will decide the trend for upcoming Assembly Elections in the state.
All the major parties will spare no stone unturned to win Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which have 19,25,450 electorates out of which over 8 lakh are from Rajouri & Poonch districts while around 11 lakhs are from South Kashmir.