Approximately 219 candidates are trying their luck in this phase, with several mainstream leaders aiming to retain their seats. Several others are hoping to overthrow them.
There are legacies and reputations at stake in this phase of the assembly elections in J&K.
The first legacy under threat is in Kulgam, while the constituency earlier looked all set for the triangular fight between Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami, People’s Conference Party’s (PC) Nazir Ahmad Laway, and Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Mohammad Amin Dar.
However, with the inclusion of several independent and Jamaat-backed candidates, the dynamics on this particular seat have changed, with Tarigami seeking re-election for the record fifth time.
The inclusion of independent candidates has significantly altered the course of this seat. Despite this, Tarigami has never lost in Kulgam since 1996.
From Dooru Anantnag, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, aims to reclaim the seat he lost to the PDP during the 2014 elections by a narrow margin of 161 votes.
The Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance candidate faces a four-way battle against PDP’s Mohammad Ashraf Malik, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’s Bashir Ahmad Wani, and Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s Mohammad Saleem Parray.
In DH Pora NC veteran leader Sakina Ittoo, who is also seeking re-election from this constituency, is facing the PDP candidate for this particular seat.
PDP’s Iltija Mufti, who is contesting for the first time from her family's stronghold Bijbehara, will be up against the NC’s Bashir Veeri, who has lost twice but is confident of his victory this time.
PDP’s Waheed Ur Rehman Parra is trying his luck from the Pulwama seat against PDP defector Khalil Ahmad Bandh, who is now running on a national conference ticket.
Bandh, a three-time winner before switching sides after the abrogation of Article 370, faces competition from independent candidate Dr Talat Majid, backed by Jamaat, while Parra is seeking redemption after his loss against Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of NC in Lok Sabha elections.
In Doda, there is a friendly contest between the National Conference’s Khalid Najib Suharwady, a former home minister, and Congress’ Sheikh Riyaz.
However, the Pampore constituency promises to be a fiercely contested seat, as the three candidates vying for this seat are well-established and have significant political influence.
The PDP has fielded Zahoor Ahmad Mir, who is seeking his re-election for a fourth term, a massively popular leader who has dominated this seat.
However, unlike earlier, NC has fielded former MP Retd. Justice Hasnain Masoodi, is a massively popular political figure in south Kashmir.
Meanwhile, the race further heats up with the inclusion of independent candidate Advocate Mohammad Maqbool Shah, supported by Pampore United Forum.
It will be interesting to see the fight between the veteran leaders who are seeking re-election against the newbies and freshers who are challenging the legacies of the established leaders.
Voting for the first phase will start at around 7 am and end at 6 pm. The results for this phase will be declared on October 8.
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