Wanted: candidates for Janata Party

An advertisement for a job may be common, but in Kashmir, a national political party has sought candidates for the coming Assembly polls through advertisements in local newspapers.

An advertisement for a job may be common, but in Kashmir, a national political party has sought candidates for the coming Assembly polls through advertisements in local newspapers.

The advertisement placed by the Janata Party in a local English daily carries a photograph of the party8217;s national working president, Vijay Mallya. Calling all 8220;interested candidates8221;, the advertisement directs them to contact the state party president, Som Nath Dabgotra.

The party offers many incentives to prospective candidates. When this reporter contacted Dabgotra posing as an applicant, he said: 8220;There are no losses, only gains. If you can spend Rs 5 lakh, the party will give you Rs 25 lakh. You will have personal security officers, you will get a car and the government can even provide you with accommodation8221;. While a political background is not necessary, the candidates must be 8220;financially sound8221;.

However, when contacted later, Dabgotra told The Indian Express, that his party was not short of candidates. 8220;We have not published this advertisement to seek candidates,8221; he said. 8220;We are contesting 52 to 60 seats. We have four candidates lined up for each Assembly seat. We wanted to publicise our contact number so that if somebody wants to reach us, he would know how to do so.8221;

The first phase of Assembly elections in the state is just a fortnight away. This is the first time that a political party is seeking candidates through an advertisement in the local media.

Meanwhile, an anonymous candidate has published a similar advertisement seeking 20 people to run his election campaign. The eligibility criteria: 8220;Kashmiri Muslims from Habba Kadal Assembly constituency8221;.

The advertisement reads: 8220;Urgently required 20 people, Kashmiri Muslims of Habba Kadal constituency to run election campaign Cell No 97975530208221;. The Habba Kadal constituency in Srinagar that has a substantial Kashmiri Pandit votebank is going to polls in the last phase on December 24.

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