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| Herculean task for sitting legislators to retain seats in Ganderbal, Bandipora districts | | Lone might bite dust from Sonawari; close contest from Bandipora, Kangan seats | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Nov 25: The anti-incumbency wave that has assumed centre stage in the general election in the past is all set to sweep the chances of the sitting legislators in most of the constituencies of Kashmir where elections were held today.
Sitting legislators like Mohammad Akbar Lone (National Conference), Mian Altaf Ahmad (National Conference) and Nizam-ud-din Bhat (Peoples Democratic Party) would find it very difficult to retain their assembly seats. At the same time National Conference would find it very difficult to retain the Ganderbal assembly seat since the party has been badly hit by internal bickering over the past few years.
Lone who is seeking re-election from Sonawari constituency faces a tremendous challenge from PDP's Yasir Reshi. The sitting legislator has come in for sharp criticism from majority of the people in his constituency. The recent flood has added more miseries to him since the people allege that he was missing during the nature's fury.
"We have come out to vote and vote for change. We don't want to send Akbar Lone to the assembly yet again. He has done nothing for the people of constituency and why should we vote for him. The sitting legislator has showered benefits and favours on his own men while leaving the majority at the mercy of Almighty Allah," said a group of youth at Shadipora.
This group of youth said that Lone was missing during the recent flood and it was PDP's candidate who came to the rescue of the local population. They said the relief material sent for the flood affected people was embezzled by the workers of National Conference who are close to the sitting legislator.
"We have decided to give Yasir a chance and see what he does for us. This is a vote for change and not the vote of continuity for Lone. If the other areas develop then what is lacking with respect to our village The basic facilities would be available to us only when an efficient person like Yasir is given a chance in the assembly," said the youth.
A group of elderly people of Asham also took a dig at Lone for his inactive role in providing relief to the flood hit people. They said that despite huge losses meagre compensation has been paid to the flood affected people.
"I suffered a loss of eight lakh rupees and in lieu of this a relief cheque of Rs. 1,500 was paid to me. Isn't it a grave injustice? I am living from hand to mouth, but still then the concerned people are not moved. Our legislator also could not help in this hour of misery and as such we continue to suffer," said an elderly person while puffing Hukka (Hubble bubble) at a polling booth in Asham.
However, Lone find some support in the Sumbal area where a group of people while casting their vote in the Higher Secondary premises said that development in the area has all been possible due to the efforts of sitting legislator. This group of people said that Lone ensured that a degree college is sanctioned for the Sumbal area adding that other development works have also been taken up during the past six years.
Voices of resentment and anger against Lone were also heard from people who were casting their vote outside polling booths of Wangipora, Nowgam and Inderkote. These people said that Lone has failed them time and again and the matters were made worse due to his absence during the recent devastating flood.
"During the three year rule of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed we heaved a sigh of relief and we could live with dignity. It is our wish that our dignity gets restored and this is possible only when people like Akbar Lone are rejected. We want to come out of misery and same is impossible if Lone gets re-elected," said the aggrieved residents of Wangipora and Inderkote.
PDP's sitting legislator from Bandipora assembly seat, Nizam-ud-din Bhat is facing severe criticism from the people since he has failed to come up their expectations. The people in general say that Nizam has failed to deliver goods being the legislator and as such needs to improve upon his performance.
"You can yourself see that there is no development in our area and it is all due to the inactive role of our legislator. He has not done much for his constituency and as such it would be difficult for him to pull through this time around. Why should we suffer while the others would progress by leaps and bounds," said a group of youth outside a polling booth in the Nowpora locality of Bandipora town.
However, the youth along with some others say that Nizam can't do much since he was not part of the government and had little role in the overall implementation of the development programmes. These people said that biggest tragedy with Bandipora has been that its legislator has always been in opposition and not in the government.
"Usman Majeed is posing a serious challenge to Nizam-ud-din Bhat and the election is very tough. The margin of the victory would be very thin and definitely this is not a lopsided contest. Our aim is that Bandipora should see the development it deserves and there is a bright future for our unemployed youth," said Mohammad Ashraf, a resident of Nadihal.
Kangan which has always been a safe seat for National Conference is all set to witness an intense battle between the sitting legislator, Mian Altaf Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Mir of Peoples Democratic Party. There are people within the constituency who say that Altaf has limited his activities to limited pockets while keeping the other areas as backward.
"Wangath, the native area of sitting legislator has seen development like anything while as the other areas have been left out from the development map. We would like a holistic development in the entire Kangan area and same is possible only when the sitting legislator is shown the door," said a group of voters in main Kangan. |
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