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This is an archive article published on September 24, 2024

In J-K second phase seats, shrinking PDP footprint after 2014, NC dominant

In this phase, 239 candidates, including NC vice-president Omar Abdullah and Apni party chief Altaf Bukhari, are in the fray across 26 seats.

In terms of vote share, the PDP led with 31.04% in these seats, followed by the NC at 28.66%, the Congress at 14.19% and the BJP at 12.53%. (File photos)

On Wednesday, 26 seats across Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls in the second phase of voting. At 15, a larger number of seats voting in this phase fall in the Kashmir division, with the remaining 11 in Jammu.

Of the 26, nine are Scheduled Tribe-reserved seats – Budhal, Gulabgarh, Mendhar, Rajouri, Surankote, Thannamandi, and Kangan. Of these, only Kangan falls in the Kashmir division.

At least seven of these 26 seats have been renamed or carved out of other constituencies, and roughly correspond to 24 seats prior to delimitation in 2022.

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Also Read | From Omar and Bukhari to Karra and Raina, second phase of J-K polls to test high-profile faces

In the 2014 Assembly polls, the Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference (NC) were the protagonists of the contest in these 26 seats. The PDP led with wins in 10 seats, followed by the NC in eight seats. Among the remaining seats, the BJP won in three and the Congress in two, with the People’s Democratic Front winning one seat.

In terms of vote share, the PDP led with 31.04% in these seats, followed by the NC at 28.66%, the Congress at 14.19% and the BJP at 12.53%.

The 2019 Lok Sabha polls, held after the formation and collapse of the PDP-BJP government, saw big losses for the PDP. It failed to secure a lead in these elections in any of the Assembly segments which are voting on Wednesday. The NC was the dominant party, leading in 15 Assembly segments, followed by the Congress in six and the BJP in three.

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, held after the abrogation of Article 370 and delimitation, the NC continued its strong performance, leading in 20 Assembly segments. The PDP again was not the front-runner in any of the 26 Assembly segments. The BJP led in three segments, followed by the Congress and Independent Engineer Rashid in one segment each.

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At stake in Phase 2

Total seats: 26 – 15 in Kashmir and 11 in Jammu

Voters in Phase 2: 25.7 lakh – 13.09 lakh men and 12.61 lakh women

Turnout in 2014: 61.28%

Chart: Seats won in past polls.

The candidates in Phase 2

Total candidates: 239

Candidates with criminal cases: 49 (21% of total candidates)

PDP: 4 (15% of party’s candidates)

NC: 1 (5%)

BJP: 4 (24%)

Congress: 2 (33%)

The ST-reserved Habbakadal seat has the most candidates with criminal cases at 5.

Crorepati candidates: 131 (55%)

PDP: 17 (73%)

NC: 18 (90%)

BJP: 13 (76%)

Congress: 6 (100%)

Average assets: Rs 5.81 crore

PDP: Rs 5.25 crore

NC: Rs 11.22 crore

BJP: Rs 11.07 crore

Congress: Rs 29.39 crore

Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, the Apni Party chief contesting in Channapora, is the richest candidate across all phases with total assets worth Rs 165.41 crore.

Women candidates: 6 (3%)

Average age of candidates: 48.4 years

Youngest: Faisal Fayaz, 25, contesting Chadoora as an Independent

Oldest: Abdul Rahim Rather, 80, contesting Chrar-i-Sharief for NC

Candidates who are graduates or above: 114 (47.7%)

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Five big contests

Central Shalteng | Congress J&K chief Tariq Hameed Karra, vs PDP’s Abdul Qayum Bhat, vs Apni Party’s Zaffer Habib Dar, former Hurriyat activist

Budgam | NC vice-president and ex-CM Omar Abdullah, vs PDP’s Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, a Shia cleric

Channapora | Apni Party chief Altaf Bukhari, vs NC candidate and businessman Mushtaq Guroo, vs PDP’s Mohammed Iqbal Trumboo, vs BJP’s Hilal Ahmad Wani

Ganderbal | NC’s Omar Abdullah, vs PDP state secretary Bashir Ahmad Mir, vs jailed cleric and Independent Sarjan Barkati

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Nowshera | BJP J&K chief Ravinder Raina, vs NC’s Surinder Choudhary, former BJP and PDP members, vs PDP’s Haq Nawaz