Suhail Dar
Engineer Rashid marched the streets of Kokernag throughout the day on Friday drawing crowds for his roadshows. In a usual display, he tore apart the regional political parties, while making a few references to the central government.
Alongside Engineer Rashid was tribal activist Chowdhary Anwar Phambra, who was been granted mandate for the Kokernag assembly seat, now reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Chowdhary in the morning was seen leading a cavalcade of several vehicles towards Anantnag town, where Engineer Rashid addressed a rally at Sports stadium Anantnag.
Though the rally did not get the anticipated response, Engineer Rashid who is also the Member Parliament Baramulla received a warm welcome from his supporters.
Back to Kokernag, the seat is set to witness a significant political showdown between the National Conference and PDP in the upcoming elections, with the People’s Democratic Party with a slight edge.
Kokernag, recently declared as a ST-reserved constituency by the Delimitation Commision, comprises over 91,000 voters, including 46,840 males, 44,439 females and one transgender voter.
A total of 123 polling stations, both urban and rural locations, have been installed across the assembly segment, officials told The Kashmiriyat.
Although the seat is reserved for ST candidates, non-ST voters are expected to play a decisive role in the election. Out of 91,280 registered voters in the constituency, only 28,000 belong to the ST community, while the remaining 63,000 are non-ST.
“This ST-reserved seat has attracted intense competition among multiple contenders, with an intriguing dynamic between ST and non-ST voters shaping the race,” said Mubashir Ahmed, a political observer from the Kokernag area of Anantnag district in south Kashmir.
A total of 10 candidates are vying for the Kokernag seat, many of whom belong to the Chowdhary community, however, the primary battle appears to be between two candidates: Haroon Chowdhary from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Zaffar Chowdhary of the National Conference (NC).
Mubashir said, “The Kokernag seat has become a focal point in the broader political landscape of south Kashmir, especially with ST candidates receiving backing from diverse voter groups. The influence of non-ST voters cannot be underestimated in this election.”
Choudhary Haroon Khatana, a prominent tribal leader, recently made a significant move by leaving the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and joining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Having previously been associated with the National Conference before his stint with DPAP, Haroon’s political journey has seen multiple shifts. His deep-rooted connections with the local community make him a key contender in the upcoming election, with his influence steadily increasing.
Mubashir commented, “Haroon’s exit from DPAP is a calculated decision to align himself with a more established voter base in the PDP. His tribal identity is likely to appeal strongly to a substantial portion of Kokernag’s electorate.”
Zaffar Choudhary, the National Conference candidate, hails from a well-known political family. His father, Choudhary Mohd Shafi, was a respected Congress leader. Zaffar began his political career with the National Conference in 2008, later switching to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, where he held the position of Minister of State during the PDP-BJP coalition.
In 2018, he returned to the NC, positioning himself as a leading candidate for the Kokernag seat.
Mubashir describes Zaffar as “an experienced leader with deep roots in the constituency, adept at addressing the concerns of both tribal and non-tribal voters.”
Choudhary Gulzar, running as an independent candidate, is seen as a potential game-changer in the upcoming election. His campaign received a significant boost when Talib Hussain Choudhary, a former PDP leader, extended his support, increasing Gulzar’s chances of mounting a serious challenge to the established party candidates.
Mubashir, observes, “Gulzar’s independent candidacy could be a key factor in this race. His ability to attract voters dissatisfied with the mainstream parties gives him a distinct advantage.”
“It’s crucial to recognize the importance of non-ST voters, as they will likely tip the balance in favor of whichever candidate manages to appeal to them most effectively,” Mubashir said, adding, that NC’s Zaffar Choudhary may benefit from the support of Peerzada Tauqir, a former judge, who has worked hard in the belt. “Tauqir was set to get the mandate before the seat was declared a ST- reserve seat, but he has worked really hard in this belt,” said Mubashir.
Peerzada Mohammed Mohammad Sayed, the NC-Congress alliance candidate for Anantnag, who is also a voter in Kokernag has also put his weight behind the NC candidate, which might give NC a slight edge over PDP, whose former MLA from Kokernag, Abdul Rahim Rather has also joined the Indian National Congress.
PDP’s Haroon Choudhary is counting on support from local PDP figures such as Abdul Salam Reshi and others to attract the non-ST vote, however, his influence on the ST populace is unparalleled, said Mubashir.
Mubashir adds, “Both NC and PDP have invested heavily in securing non-ST voters, knowing full well that this bloc could determine who wins.”
As the election draws closer, the outcome will hinge on which candidate can bridge the gap between Kokernag’s ST and non-ST voters, making this contest one of the most closely watched in the region.