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| Triangular battle in Surankote | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 3: A triangular contest, with third angle slightly ebbed, is in the offing in hilly Surankote constituency of Poonch district as eleven candidates have remained in fray after the last date of withdrawal of nomination paperas.
Congress veteran and sitting Member of Rajya Sabha Choudhary Mohammad Aslam is strongly pitted against former Minister and two-time straight legislator Syed Mushtaq Bukhari of National Conference. Bukhari’s cousin Dr Mumtaz as Peoples Democratic Party nominee makes the battle interesting.
In Surankote Assembly segment 15 candidates had filed their nominations. Four aspirants have withdrawn their papers on the last date of withdrawl today. Now there are 11 candidates in the pray. These include Syed Mustaq Ahmed Bukhari of National Conference, Choudhary Mohammad Aslam of Congress, Dr. Mumtaz, Bukhari of PDP and Abdul Aziz of BJP. Other candidates are either independents or belong to the smaller and newer parties.
Total voters in Surankote constituency are 84748, out of which 837112 or Muslims, 1036 Hindus while 42% are Gujjars and Bakarwals rest are Paharis apart from 4500 Kashmiri speaking.
During last assembly election 33256 voters had cast their votes in 2002 in Surankote Constituency. There were seven candidates. The main contest was between Mustaq Ahmed Bukhari of NC and Chudhary Aslam of Congress. Bukhari had won the election and secured 15423 votes while Aslam could 13271 votes.
This time there is a triangular contest between Chudhary Mohammad Aslam of Congress Mustaq Bukhari at NC and Mumtaz Bukhari of PDP. There is an apprehension that the Pahari vote bank of Mustaq Bukhari may split by the presence of Mumtaz Bukhari.
Dr Mumtaz Bukhari is a son of Peer Jamiat Ali Shah who had represented Surankote- Mendhar Constituency from 1952 to 1967. Dr Mumtaz is also having his followings among common people of Surankote.
On the other hand Baji Sahaib of Kalakote who is a religious preacher is also working hard in favour of Dr. Mumtaz Bukhari therefore the Pahari vote bank shall be divided between the two brothers i.e. Mustaq Bukhari and Mumtaz Bukhari. However Mustaq Bukhari is also working very hard to woo a significant chunk of votes of Manhas families. Ayub Shabnum and some Manhas families are also backing Mustaq Bukhari after being his opponents for long.
The Gujjar voters of Surankote are seen to be behind Choudhary Aslam even though caste is the lone factor. Aslam being an MP during last three years had got opportunity in re-establishing his links with his community along with Hindus of Surankote. He had got number of works executed through MP LAD funds for the benefits of his supporters. Aslam had represented Surankote constituency for a long period from 1967 to 1996. Being a song of veteran Gujjar leader Choudhary Ghulam Hussain Lassanvi and having relations with the family of Main Nazam-ud-Din Larvi, Aslam stands better protests this time. In 1996 (his community residing across nullah in Surankote could not cast their votes fully due to the threat of militant to voters. But this time the position is quite different. Contest still remained tough between the three. |
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