Tough time for BJP in all the 5 Assembly Constituencies of Rajouri district.

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

SHYAM SOOD 

RAJOURI OCT 07:–A few hours left when the fate of many bigwigs and prominent faces, including former ministers, Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) & MLCs will be decided in 2024 Assembly Elections held after 10 years in J&K.
In Rajouri district also tough fights are expected to decide the fate of bigwigs and prominent faces including Ch. Zulfkar Ali (former minister , Adv Shabir Khan (former minister); Ravinder Kumar Raina ( BJP UT State Head); Ch Qamar Hussain (former MLA), Ashok Sharma (former MLA), Vibodh Gupta (former MLC), Surinder Kumar Choudhary (former MLC), Tasadiq Hussain (former MLC), and prominent faces Mohd Iqbal Malik (BJP), Javaid Iqbal (NC), Yashu Vardhan (NC & son bi of ex-MLA), Iftkhar Ahmed (Congress), and Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (retd judge-independent).
These bigwigs are in fray for 5 Assembly constituencies of the district having support from there supporters and dedicated workers of respective political parties.
In 2104 elections the Rajouri district had four constituencies namely Kalakot, Nowshera, Darhal & Rajouri.
Now Rajouri has 5 constituencies as new constituency Thanamandi was created after delimitation of segments.
In Rajouri district traditional voters might have voted in favour of the party candidate to which they support.
But their fate depends on the votes of the young generation and intellectual class who have voted keeping in mind the recent development in UT of J&K after the abrogation of Article 370.
Prevailing peace scenario, ST Status for Pahari community, and overall development of the state are other factors in the minds of people before they will go for polling.
In the 2024 elections it would not be easy for any candidate to claim his victory. All the five constituencies would see neck-to-neck fight and the winning margin would be between 2-5 thousand.
In 84-Nowshera constituency the direct fight is between Ravinder Raina (BJP) and Surinder Choudhary (NC) and as per reports NC has an edge.
83-Kalakote Assembly constituency will witness a very close electoral fight between Chacha (uncle) Randhir Singh (BJP), who recently joined BJP and Bhatija (nephew) Yashu Vardhan, son of ex-MLA late Th.Rashpal Singh. If independent candidate Arun Kumar manage to get more than five thousand votes, NC candidate may emerge winner.
Similar position is in 86-Budhal constituency which will witness a very close fight between Mama Zulfikar Ali (BJP) and Bhanja Javaid Iqbal (NC) and NC & BJP candidates have 50-50 chance.
The high-profile 85-Rajouri constituency will see a direct fight between BJP state general secretary Vibodh Gupta and NC-Congress candidate Iftkhar Ahmed.
Though, Iftkhar is a new face for the people of this constituency however, with a hectic campaign by NC & Congress cadre he is now in a fighting position.
If Iftkhar succeeds in getting the dedicated votes of NC & Congress, he could win the seat.
In newly created 87-Thanamandi Assembly Constituency a triangular fight is expected between BJP’s Mohd Iqbal Malik, PDP candidate Ch Qamar Hussain and Independent candidate retd-Judge Muzaffar Iqbal Khan.
“Had the Paharis voted in favour of BJP after getting ST Status as BJP claims, the BJP candidate may emerge winner otherwise the retired Judge has an edge over other candidates.