Chief of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has now thrown her hat in the poll arena by deciding to contest the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat.
The prestigious seat, which may witness a quadruple contest, is set to become the main battleground of all the political parties. The constituency will go to polls in the third phase on May 7, 2024.
So far National Conference has given its mandate to one of the tallest Gujjar leaders and five-time party MLA Mian Altaf Ahmed. Another former Chief Minister and Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad is also in the fray.
Now all eyes are on the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) as it is yet to announce the name of the party candidate from the Lok Sabha seat.
In case the BJP decides against fielding its candidate the Lok Sabha seat will witness a triangular contest.
Post Delimitation exercise the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch can tilt the balance in favour of the winning candidate.
Out of eight Assembly segments, seven fall in the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. Both Congress and the National Conference enjoy the support of the electorate in the region.
On the other hand, the BJP is eyeing the support of the Paharis and Gujjar, Bakerwals after it fulfilled its promise of granting scheduled tribe status to the Pahari ethnic group.
The National Conference candidate Mian Altaf Ahmed also enjoys the support of Paharis and Gujjars in the region. With the entry of Mehbooba Mufti into the poll arena the contest has become multi-corner. Mehbboba won the Lok Sabha seat in 2014 while she was pushed to the third spot in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Srinagar on Sunday Chairman of the PDP Parliamentary Board Sartaj Madni told reporters the name of PDP Chief Mehooba Mufti has been cleared to contest Lok Sabha polls from Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
Party’s youth president Wahid-ur-Rehman Parra will contest elections from the Srinagar seat, and Fayaz Mir, a former MP will be fielded from north Kashmir’s Baramulla segment, Madni said.
Accepting the challenge Mehbooba Mufti claimed I am a fighter. I will continue to raise my voice in support of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She maintained the decision to field PDP candidates on three Lok Sabha seats was taken after the National Conference leadership, one of the main constituents of the INDIA bloc, unilaterally decided to contest all three Lok Sabha seats
Responding to inquiries about her campaign promises, Mufti reiterated that her voice for the people served as her manifesto, underlining her unwavering dedication to amplifying their concerns and aspirations.
“Meri awaaz hi Mera Manshoor hai’”she said.
In response to questions regarding the PDP’s role in INDIA alliances, Mufti affirmed the party’s unconditional support for the Congress on two seats in Jammu.
