The newly formed Chanapora constituency is one of the major Assembly segments among eight in Srinagar.
A general constituency it is one of the 90 Assembly segments where elections will take place in phase-two.
The National Conference has fielded Mushtaq Guroo, while Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party has given a ticket to Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo to contest for the seat.
The BJP has fielded Hilal Ahmad Wani, who will be contesting against Apni Party chief Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari.
The Congress, in a pre-poll alliance with the NC, has not fielded any candidate from here.
Experts say Bukhari is facing a tough fight from the PDP and NC candidates.
A former minister, he is going door to door to meet voters in this newly crafted constituency.
He needs all the support he can get as two established parties are contesting against him.
However, some sections in the polling community of this constituency have been generationally loyal NC supporters. They have always voted for the grand old party.
Another section of voters feels the Apni Party is the BJP’s B team and its chief PM Narendra Modi’s right hand in the valley.
NC and PDP have also alleged that Bukhari is a BJP proxy who is looking to divide the vote share in the Valley.
On several occasions, Altaf Bukhari has also admitted his loyalty to the Prime Minister, saying he has met the PM, Home Minister, and the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh.
Earlier, during an interview, NC vice president Omar Abdullah, without naming the parties of Bukhari and Sajad Lone, said parties propped up during Lok Sabha elections to divide the vote share met their rightful fate, and today these parties do not have any recognisable political leaders.
It will be interesting to see who emerges victorious on this newly crafted assembly constituency with the stage set for the four-way fight.
Voting for the second phase will take place on September 25, and the results will be announced on October 8.
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