Boycott call to define Srinagar by-election result

The bypolls are seen as a direct contest between NC’s Abdullah and PDP’s Nazir Ahmad Khan.

J&K, Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar, Srinagar Lok Sabha bypolls, Habbakadal, National Conference, Farooq Abdullah, Hurriyat Conference, PDP, RSS Congress, India news, Jammu and Kashmir news, Srinagar bypolls, indian express

Outside a polling station in Srinagar on Saturday. (Express Photo by Shuaib Masoodi )

J&K Police on Saturday arrested a known PDP worker from Srinagar’s Habbakadal locality with posters calling for election boycott, a day before Sunday’s bypolls for Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

Habbakadal is a stronghold of opposition National Conference (NC), which has fielded party president Farooq Abdullah from the constituency.

The bypolls would be defined by the boycott. While separatist Hurriyat Conference hopes for a complete boycott of the elections to “send a message” to international community, both ruling PDP and opposition alliance partners NC and the Congress are vying for selective boycott — in the strongholds of their rivals, to help their candidate sail through.

On Sunday, the focus would be away from Srinagar. It will be centred on adjoining Budgam and Ganderbal districts, which form a part of Srinagar parliamentary seat. While Srinagar city is expected to largely follow the call for boycott, voting patterns in Ganderbal and Budgam could decide the fate of the candidates.

Srinagar Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after Tariq Hameed Karra, resigned as an MP last year. Karra, then in PDP, had defeated NC stalwart and former CM Farooq Abdullah in 2014. After resigning from PDP, Karra joined the Congress and is campaigning for Abdullah this time.

The bypolls are seen as a direct contest between NC’s Abdullah and PDP’s Nazir Ahmad Khan.

Khan, who recently joined PDP, was the Congress candidate from Beerwah Assembly seat in 2014 elections. He had lost to then chief minister Omar Abdullah by a margin of only 900 votes.

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The outcome would also be determined by which candidate is able to influence Shia voters, who have a strong presence especially in Budgam district. The PDP has made its Shia face, Imran Raza Ansari, the star campaigner.

A key campaign theme of NC is that any vote for the PDP would be a vote for the RSS.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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