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| Srinagar-Budgam set to witness interesting contest between Separatists, Mainstream | | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, Apr 28 : As the campaigning for the prestigious Srinagar-Budgam Loke Sabha Constituency finally ended this evening, both separatists and mainstream - are competing to ensure their influence on voting and reinforce their position on the political future of Kashmir. It is quite understandable that poll boycott call has always greater resonance in cities and towns, polling percentage in Budgam and Ganderbal districts could be slightly better. Though both Budgam and Ghanderbal districts were actually carved out of the old Srinagar District and are, in many ways still integrated with Srinagar city, however, politically these two carved out districts have a different outlook essentially because the politics in the twin districts is localized. In Budgam district, presence of political parties, Peoples Democratic Party and National Conference is more felt because of personal clout of the local leaders among the communities -they represent in their respective areas. Even Hakim Mohammad Yasin who represents the Khansahib assembly segment in the state legislature is enjoying personal clout among the voters of that area independent of NC or PDP. Budgam district has a mixed population of Shia and Sunni sects and interestingly both the sects have founded their politics on local factors. A R Rather, senior NC leader and Finance Minister in Omar Abdullah government also enjoys the same clout independent of the party to which he belongs. It is evident that the boycott call given by the separatists will not be effective in the district unless otherwise the separatist assert in a big way. Some militancy related incidents that took place in the district in the recent past, however, could have bearing in some areas particularly the ones bordering with the Srinagar city. As for Ganderbal district, Kangan assembly segment again has its own political demography. Majority of the population in Kangan is those of Gujjars having religious/tribal influence. On the contrary the Kashmiri speaking people of the area always assert on local issues. In Ganderbal assembly segment too, the population is mixed. Though majority here is of the Kashmiri speaking people but the Gujjar and Pashtoo people are also significant in numbers. Therefore, barring the main Ganderbal town, rural rather hilly areas may witness brisk polling given the situation on the polling day remains violence free. Coming to Srinagar district, the electoral and boycott politics has of late assumed much significance because for the first time mainstream particularly opposition PDP is asserting through its local leaders. It was for the first time in the history of PDP that an impressive election rally was held in Khanyar-the heart of the Old City. Trade Union leader-turn- politician, Khursheed Aalam is asserting in a big way which of course has made the competition between the mainstream and separatists quite interesting. Though the upper middle class and elites may essentially stay away from the voting, however, younger generation from poor and lower-middle background are likely to defy the call in large numbers. So it is expected that Srinagar city is all set to witness a war between contending ideologies. |
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