Mufti wave may sweep south Kashmir

The Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) chances of snatching power from the ruling National Conference (NC) largely depend on its performance in the fourth phase of elections on Sunday when voters in eight Assembly segments of Anantnag and Shopian exercise their franchise.

South Kashmir has always remained a stronghold of the PDP since its inception in 1999 and the party won 12 out of 16 seats from the region in 2008. Of the eight seats going to polls on Sunday six are presently held by the PDP. It won’t be wrong to say that what Srinagar is to the NC, south Kashmir is for the PDP.

PDP patron and former chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is contesting from Anantnag constituency, seems ahead of his rivals. He is also hopeful of occupying the chief minister’s chair. Mufti’s chances are bright not only because of the anti-incumbency factor but people in the Valley, especially in south Kashmir, recall his tenure as chief minister (2002-2005) with fondness.

They credit Mufti for taking several steps to make the lives of the common man, who had been sandwiched between security forces on one side and militants on the other, much easier.

“It was Mufti who disbanded notorious STF and crushed counter insurgents who had made lives of common people hell. He put an end to the highhandedness of security forces. It is because of him people move around freely now,” Zahoor Ahmad, a resident of Anantnag town, told Deccan Herald.

Ahmad, a businessman, believes that PDP will do better this time compared to 2014. “People have seen six years of NC rule in which corruption, misgovernance and lawlessness was order of the day. People want change and there can’t be better option than Mufti,” he claims.

“Corruption is at its peak and there are no jobs for educated youth. When Mufti was in power, he did a lot for the state. During Mufti era, lot of development works happened in the state and especially in our area,” Zahoor added.