A new, strange post-poll alliance in Valley

Jammu and Kashmir has got a new, strange post-poll alliance 8212; that of the candidates who lost in the assembly elections.

J038;K has got a new, strange post-poll alliance 8212; that of the candidates who lost in the assembly elections.

Around 300 defeated candidates in the Valley have joined hands to form the Peoples Action Committee. Their common grievance: the withdrawal of security cover has put their lives in danger.

8220;No sooner did we lose the polls than the security cover provided by the state administration was lifted,8221; said Muzaffar Ahmad Shah of Awami National Conference, who will head the Action Committee. 8220;This has put our lives in danger and increased the threat perception.8221;

Shah warned that they would file a murder case against the J038;K government in case of any attack on candidates.

The defeated candidates accused the government of 8220;using8221; them. 8220;We were treated like tissuepaper, used and thrown off,8221; said Mufti Nazeem-ud-din of Save Srinagar Front, who unsuccessfully contested against National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah in Hazratbal.

The new alliance also alleged that the elections were 8220;stage-managed8221; and 8220;rigged.8221; The Committee that comprises several local and national political parties 8212; including the Awami National Conference, Save Srinagar Front, Lok Janshakti Party and the Nationalist Congress Party 8212; and Independents has threatened to launch a 8220;peaceful agitation8221; if the Election Commission failed to address their concerns.

In the Valley, only one Independent candidate managed to win while three smaller parties got a seat each. As many as 1,352 candidates were in the fray in the state. In the Valley, 751 candidates contested from 46 assembly constituencies 8211; the highest number ever.

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