2 party chiefs and cousin of a third form the triangle

Rehman won’t have it easy this time because National Conference (NC) too has pitched its man, former Advocate-General Mohammad Aslam Goni, into the fray. In 1996, NC supported Rehman after seat adjustments with his party. He was declared the best legislator last year. That, however, doesn’t deter his rivals from mounting a tough challenge.

Kotwal, as his party’s man, is banking on Hindu votes. He hopes that Muslim votes will split between NC and BSP so he can ride home. The last time, Kotwal secured 17,260 votes (40.90 per cent), and Rehman had bagged 21,615 votes (51.23 per cent).

Over the last few years, Kotwal has been slogging to set up village defence committees (VDCs) in Doda. He is also harping on the Chenab Valley Development Bill that Rehman had presented in the Assembly. The Opposition is dead against it, especially a vocal BJP.

For Congress, discrimination too is an issue. If voted to power, the party has vowed to make a Doda man the chief minister. Azad considers the fight here an issue of the ‘‘ego’’.

Among the 13 candidates in the fray are PDP’s Shiekh Mujeeb and Janata Dal(U)’s Pervez Ahmed. The others are Independents. If the trend is anything to go by, neither BSP, BJP, nor Congress will ride home easy.