Polling for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections began for 26 assembly seats - 11 in Jammu - on Wednesday, marking a critical juncture for political parties, particularly the National Conference-Congress (NC-Congress) alliance and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The stakes are especially high for the BJP, banking on its recent political decisions like granting Schedule Tribe (ST) status to Paharis to make inroads into eight constituencies of Muslim-majority Poonch and Rajouri, also called Pir Panjal, where eight seats are up for grabs.
In the 2014 elections, BJP’s Ravinder Raina and Abdul Gani Kohli secured victories in Nowshera and Kalakote in Rajouri district, respectively. Post Article 370, the BJP has made a significant political push in Pir Panjal to increase its footprint. The granting of ST status, however, has angered the Gujjar and Bakerwals who comprise a big chunk of the population in the region.
To counter that, the BJP has fielded several Gujjar leaders in Pir Panjal to woo the Gujjars and the Paharis. The BJP aims to expand its footprint in constituencies such as Rajouri, Thanamandi, Budhal, Surankote, Mendhar, and Poonch-Haveli, deploying all available resources.
The second phase of polling covering Rajouri, Poonch, and Reasi has witnessed heightened militancy activity, particularly in Rajouri and Poonch, which are located along the Line of Control (LoC). Over a dozen terror attacks since 2021 have resulted in the deaths of over 35 security personnel and several civilians. Extensive security measures have been made to ensure the safety of voters and polling staff.
The NC-Congress alliance has positioned itself as the main opposition to the BJP in Pir Panjal. In the 2014 elections, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), BJP and Congress each secured three seats, while the NC won just one seat. This time, the NC-Congress has made a joint push hoping to cash in on religious and ethnic polarisation in the region post Article 370 move by the BJP. The NC-Congress alliance is keen to use its unified strength to curb the BJP’s ambitions, making this phase a critical test of voter sentiment.
The outcome will not only affect the immediate electoral results but also set the tone for future political alliances and strategies as Jammu and Kashmir navigate its complex socio-political landscape.
Today's election will also decide the fate of Omar Abdullah of the NC, Raina, Altaf Bukhari of JK Apni Party (JKAP) and Tariq Hameed Karra, JKPCC chief of the Congress. Omar, who is contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam, is facing tough opposition from PDP candidate Bashir Mir in Ganderbal. In Budgam, his challenger is Agha Syed Muntasir of the PDP.
The PDP has a significant vote bank in the constituency. Bukhari is contesting from Chanpora in Srinagar district which he won in 2014. He was the first politician to engage with New Delhi after the Article 370 repeal causing political parties to focus on development. The JKAP candidate trailed in Lok Saha polls in Chanpora against the NC candidate. However, this time Bukhari campaigned hard in the constituency and a tough fight is expected between him and NC candidate Mushtaq Guroo.