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| Srinagar to witness interesting election battle | | | Mustansir
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: The political horizon in Srinagar city is likely to witness sea change and for all the probabilities, the opposition PDP which was being identified with the rural Kashmir may put some brave urban faces to take on NC's heavyweights with all might.
As rightly explored earlier eight seats of the Srinagar city will decide which party will form Government in 2014. Though in 2002, it was South Kashmir which changed the political landscape of the State, however, in 2008 it was Srinagar city that gave the NC an edge over PDP as the former bagged all the eight seats. Though some watchers observe that PDP rose to power in 2002 only because its candidate defeated NC president Omar Abdullah from Ganderbal constituency and NC re-couped in 2008 again because Omar Abdullah won from the Ganderbal constituency but the fact is that NC which usually rides on boycott in Srinagar emerged as the single largest party because of the city.
However, five years down the line it will be Srinagar again that will decide which way the wind blows. As of now Srinagar is not a cakewalk for NC as the intrusions made by PDP in the city together with the lack of good governance could certainly upset the NC and even can surprise it beyond its comprehension. Moreover, the party has managed entry of veteran trade union leader, Khursheed Alam who has all the capability to challenge NC in Srinagar city.
Take for example the high profile Amira Kadal seat presently represented by Nasir Aslam Wani who actually hails from Lolab area of Kupwara district. From this seat PDP has decided to field renowned business icon and industrialist, Sayed Altaf Bukhari.
Then comes the second high profile seat of Hazratbal presently represented by NC heavyweight, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal. Observers believe that if PDP manages to put an urban face like Khursheed Alam it will be a good contest. But PDP sources maintained that the party has decided to field Alam against Ali Mohammad Sagar from Khanyar constituency. Alam in anyway is the major threat for NC who could even destabilize 70 year old NC in the city.
On the other hand Sajjad Lone's People's Conference is snapping at the heels of NC in Amira Kadal and if PDP manages to put up an urban face, Amira Kadal will be an interesting fight. It is being widely perceived that Khursheed Alam's entry in PDP has made the battle for Srinagar more interesting because he has the clout and capacity to upset even Abdullahs.
As for the Batmaloo seat, PDP heavyweight, Tariq Hameed Kara is all set to take on NC's Irfan Shah who is obviously on a sticky wicket for he could not make it to the Council of Ministers which has made him irrelevant to a great extent. On the other hand it is do or die situation for Kara.
In Sonwar, PDP leader and MLC Ashraf Mir is eyeing his chances against Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. According to some observers though Mir is yet to establish himself as a serious politician, Omar may even face problems in that constituency.
Likewise in Zadibal constituency Imran Ansari son of the senior PDP leader and Shia cleric, Moulvi Iftikhar Husain Ansari seems to be quite excited to take on NC's Tanveer Sadiq who is likely to replace the sitting MLA, Peer Afaq Ahmad.
For now very quietly the battle for Srinagar's 8 seats has opened up with at least four of them offering the possibility of new winners. For years NC has lorded over the city, for years the PDP is seeking an entry into the city, in every sense the road to the Chief Minister's office in 2014 will pass through Srinagar. |
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