The upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir indeed promise to be highly competitive, with several prominent political figures vying for victory across key constituencies. Here’s a breakdown of the main contenders and their electoral strategies:
- Anantnag-Rajouri Constituency:
- Mehbooba Mufti, former Chief Minister and leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), aims to regain political ground after her third-place finish in the 2019 elections.
- Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and senior Congress leader, seeks success in his second attempt at the Lok Sabha elections from the newly delineated Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
- Baramulla Constituency:
- Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister and leader of the National Conference (NC), shifts his focus to Baramulla after serving as an MP from Srinagar. He aims to maintain his electoral stronghold in the region.
- Udhampur Constituency:
- Dr. Jitendra Singh, the incumbent Union Minister, aims to secure victory and maintain his ministerial tenure after nine consecutive years in the PMO.
- Chaudhary Lal Singh, a former Union Minister from Congress, poses stiff competition, as does GM Saruri from the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP).
The National Conference’s decision to replace two of its MPs and opt for fresh faces across all three Kashmir seats indicates a strategic shift in the party’s approach post-delimitation. This move, coupled with the withdrawal of Dr. Farooq Abdullah due to health concerns and the cancellation of tickets for Hasnain Masoodi and Mohammad Akbar Lone, reflects a calculated bid for victory in the altered electoral landscape.
Overall, these developments underscore the intensity of the political contest in Jammu and Kashmir and highlight the strategic maneuvers undertaken by various political parties to secure electoral success in the region.
