Going gets tough for NC

Although polls in Srinagar-Budgam can hardly match the first phase contests 8212; where Peoples Conference proxies added flavour to the oth...

Although polls in Srinagar-Budgam can hardly match the first phase contests 8212; where Peoples Conference proxies added flavour to the otherwise dull electoral battles 8212; anti-incumbency factor and in-fighting has thrown a major challenge to the ruling NC, especially in central Kashmir Budgam district. What is all set to benefit the NC is the absence of strong Opposition candidates inside the Srinagar city.

In Budgam, the only safe seat for the ruling party is Chrar-e-Sharief which is represented by Finance Minister Abdul Raheem Rather, who has kept a close contact with his people. The Opposition too has failed to come up with a candidate to match Rather8217;s charisma even as the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has fielded Ghulam Nabi Hanjoora who enjoys some clout.

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But last day last show collects 3000

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GANDERBAL: As a last ditch effort to win over public support in his constituency, Omar Abdullah on Sunday pulled a 3,000-strong gathering and promised them good governance and employment.

This was first major show of strength by NC which till now was drawing little crowds.

Omar expressed his fears that People8217;s Democratic Party, NC8217;s main Opposition in Ganderbal, will resort to bullying and rigging. He asked the Election Commission to remain extra-vigilant and depute more observers to Ganderbal to ensure free and fair polls.

Omar said they have lodged a formal complaint with EC against the PDP for attacking their office.8216;8216;It is litmus test for EC,8217;8217; he said. ENS

The picture at Chadoora is not that rosy for the ruling party. It8217;s man 8212; Ali Mohammad Dar 8212; is pitted against PDP8217;s Javid Mustafa who is harping on the political base of his father, Mir Mustafa, an Independent legislator who was killed by militants in 1990. The anti-incumbency sentiment is strong because the voters tend to compare it with Chrar.

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In the crucial Budgam constituency see story below, Agha Mehmood and Agha Ruhullah from the Shia clergy family of Aghas are fighting it out.

The NC8217;s nightmare continues in Beerwah seat. The party denied a ticket to its sitting legislator and Junior Education Minister Agha Mehmood for neglecting the constituency. The new man here is Mohammad Amin Banday who is in no way a match to the PDP8217;s Sarfaraz Khan. The key to this contest also lies in the boycott call.

The Srinagar district is all set to see both extremes 8212; a very good turnout in Kangan and a near-total boycott in the city constituencies. Two seats are safe for the ruling party. Nobody can even dream to dislodge Health Minister Mian Altaf from his Kangan bastion. Unlike most NC ministers and legislators, Altaf is popular for the attention he has given to Kangan8217;s development.

The other safe seat for the ruling party is Khanyar constituency of Works Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar as the minister has done a lot of developmental work. The only problem here is the boycott call because the separatists enjoy a support base here.

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The other interesting constituency is Amirakadal where NC rebel and sitting MLA Mohammad Shafi Bhat joined the fray on a Congress ticket against NC nominee Ghulam Nabi Mir Lasjan. Here the boycott would actually benefit Bhat as he has a committed vote bank.

In prestigious Ganderbal constituency, the junior Abdullah might sail through at the end of the day but it8217;s going to be close.

Muzamil Jaleel

Muzamil Jaleel is a Deputy Editor at The Indian Express and is widely recognized as one of India’s most authoritative voices on Jammu & Kashmir, national security, and internal affairs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he has provided definitive on-the-ground reportage from the heart of the Kashmir conflict, bearing witness to historic political transitions and constitutional shifts. Expertise and Investigative Depth Muzamil’s work is characterized by a rare combination of ground-level immersion and high-level constitutional analysis. His expertise includes: Conflict & Geopolitics: Decades of reporting on the evolution of the Kashmir conflict, the Indo-Pak peace process, and the socio-political dynamics of the Himalayan region. Constitutional Law: Deep-dive analysis of Article 370 and Article 35A, providing clarity on the legal and demographic implications of their abrogation in 2019. Human Rights & Accountability: A relentless investigator of state and non-state actors, uncovering systemic abuses including fake encounters and the custodial death of political workers. International War Reporting: Beyond South Asia, he provided on-the-spot coverage of the final, decisive phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. Landmark Exposés & Impact Muzamil’s reporting has repeatedly forced institutional accountability and shaped national discourse: The Kashmir Sex Scandal (2006): His investigative series exposed a high-profile exploitation nexus involving top politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers, leading to the sacking and arrest of several senior officials. Fake Encounters: His reports blew the lid off cases where innocent civilians were passed off as "foreign terrorists" by security forces for gallantry awards. SIMI Investigations: He conducted a massive deep-dive into the arrests of SIMI members, using public records to show how innocuous religious gatherings were often labeled as incriminating activities by investigative agencies. The Amarnath Land Row: Provided critical context to the 2008 agitation that polarized the region and altered its political trajectory. Over the years, Muzamil has also covered 2002 Gujarat riots, Bhuj earthquake, assembly elections in Bihar for Indian Express. He has also reported the peace process in Northern Ireland, war in Sri Lanka and national elections in Pakistan for the paper. Awards and Fellowships His "Journalism of Courage" has been honored with the industry's most prestigious accolades: Four Ramnath Goenka Awards: Recognized for J&K Reportage (2007), On-the-Spot Reporting (2009), and Reporting on Politics and Government (2012, 2017). Kurt Schork Award: From Columbia University for international journalism. Sanskriti Award: For excellence in Indian journalism and literature. IFJ Tolerance Prize: For his empathetic and nuanced reporting in South Asia. International Fellowships: Served as a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley and worked with The Guardian, The Observer, and The Times in London. He has also received Chevening fellowship and a fellowship at the Institute of Social Studies, Hague, Netherlands. Professional Presence Current Location: New Delhi (formerly Bureau Chief, Srinagar). Education: Master’s in Journalism from Kashmir University. Social Media: Follow him for field insights and rigorous analysis on X (Twitter) @MuzamilJALEEL. ... Read More