The Sirigufwara-Bijbehara constituency in Anantnag is set for an intense showdown in the first phase of polls tomorrow. The major contenders for the seat are the NC, PDP, and BJP, with the PDP traditionally strong in this area. While the race appears to be triangular, experts suggest the real competition is between regional rivals NC and PDP.
Iltija Mufti, a first-time candidate and daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, is the prominent name contesting this seat. Mehbooba Mufti has chosen to abstain from the polls in protest of the Centre's downgrading of J&K to a Union Territory in August 2019.
Iltija, a third-generation politician, has been actively campaigning and leading the PDP's efforts in south Kashmir.
The NC has fielded Bashir Ahmad Shah (Veeri), who has previously finished second in the 2008 and 2014 elections. The BJP's candidate is Sofi Yousuf, the party's UT vice president.
In the 2014 assembly elections, PDP's Abdul Rehman Bhat won the seat by a narrow margin of 2,868 votes against the current NC candidate. Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the political landscape in J&K has shifted significantly. Although traditionally a PDP stronghold, the seat is expected to see a tight contest between the PDP and NC.
Despite her mother’s controversial alliance with the BJP, which ended in 2018, Iltija has some advantages in the polls. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Mehbooba Mufti lost to NC senior leader Mian Altaf Larvi.
Observers note that while Iltija may have emotional support from female voters, she is not the clear favourite, making the contest between PDP and NC one to watch.
For the first two decades since 1977, the NC dominated this constituency, but since 2002, the PDP has consistently secured victories, with the last win in 2014.
The Sirigufwara-Bijbehara constituency will vote in the first phase on September 18, along with 23 other constituencies in the Union Territory, including Anantnag, Kulgam, and Pulwama.
According to ECI data, there were 48,284 registered voters in the Sirigufwara-Bijbehara constituency during the 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, with 24,156 men and 24,128 women.
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