<p> Scheduled for bypoll on April 12, results of south Kashmir’s Anantnag Parliamentary constituency will be crucial for ruling People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) future.<br /><br />The PDP has fielded Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother Tasaduq Hussain against the Congress heavyweight G A Mir. <br /><br />Spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, the constituency has 15 Assembly segments. Considered as PDP bastion, south Kashmir was the epicentre of last year’s unrest.<br /><br />The National Conference and the Congress have entered into a seat-sharing arrangement for the by-polls to put up a united fight against the PDP-BJP coalition government. <br /><br />While the NC is contesting from Srinagar, the Congress hopes of a victory in Anantnag rely on its state president Mir. <br />Both Mufti scion and Mir have a lot at stake as the winner would emerge as strong force in Kashmir politics in years to come while the loser will be relegated to oblivion.<br />Contesting from Anantnag constituency would be the first electoral test for Tassaduq, who formally joined the PDP on the first death anniversary of his father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 6 this year. <br /><br />During the campaign, Tasaduq has been focusing on preserving ecology and ensure sustainable development subjects which are quite alien to the common masses and PDP voters.<br /><br />Mir in his campaign has been appealing to people to exercise their franchise in his favour to “safeguard” the secular identity of the state. <br /><br />He has said that the state government was being controlled by Nagpur and the PDP was “damaging” the secular fabric of the state.<br /><br />According to political analysts, besides anti-incumbency, Tasaduq faces anger of people against the PDP for aligning with the right-wing BJP. However, they say, the PDP may be bailed out by poll boycott called by the separatists.<br /><br />“If the voter turn out is less due to separatist poll boycott call, then it will be advantage PDP as workers of opposition parties may prefer to stay away,” they said. <br /><br />The PDP also has a reason to believe that it will retain the constituency as out of the 16 MLAs from South Kashmir, the party has 11.<br /><br />Frequent encounters between security forces and militants, followed by protests, have cast a shadow over the by-election campaign in south Kashmir. <br /><br />The colourful posters and banners, which were used in abundance in 2014 Assembly and Parliamentary elections, are missing this time.<br /><br />The Anantnag seat fell vacant after Mehbooba became the chief minister and was elected to the state Assembly.</p>
<p> Scheduled for bypoll on April 12, results of south Kashmir’s Anantnag Parliamentary constituency will be crucial for ruling People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) future.<br /><br />The PDP has fielded Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s brother Tasaduq Hussain against the Congress heavyweight G A Mir. <br /><br />Spread over four districts of Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian, the constituency has 15 Assembly segments. Considered as PDP bastion, south Kashmir was the epicentre of last year’s unrest.<br /><br />The National Conference and the Congress have entered into a seat-sharing arrangement for the by-polls to put up a united fight against the PDP-BJP coalition government. <br /><br />While the NC is contesting from Srinagar, the Congress hopes of a victory in Anantnag rely on its state president Mir. <br />Both Mufti scion and Mir have a lot at stake as the winner would emerge as strong force in Kashmir politics in years to come while the loser will be relegated to oblivion.<br />Contesting from Anantnag constituency would be the first electoral test for Tassaduq, who formally joined the PDP on the first death anniversary of his father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on January 6 this year. <br /><br />During the campaign, Tasaduq has been focusing on preserving ecology and ensure sustainable development subjects which are quite alien to the common masses and PDP voters.<br /><br />Mir in his campaign has been appealing to people to exercise their franchise in his favour to “safeguard” the secular identity of the state. <br /><br />He has said that the state government was being controlled by Nagpur and the PDP was “damaging” the secular fabric of the state.<br /><br />According to political analysts, besides anti-incumbency, Tasaduq faces anger of people against the PDP for aligning with the right-wing BJP. However, they say, the PDP may be bailed out by poll boycott called by the separatists.<br /><br />“If the voter turn out is less due to separatist poll boycott call, then it will be advantage PDP as workers of opposition parties may prefer to stay away,” they said. <br /><br />The PDP also has a reason to believe that it will retain the constituency as out of the 16 MLAs from South Kashmir, the party has 11.<br /><br />Frequent encounters between security forces and militants, followed by protests, have cast a shadow over the by-election campaign in south Kashmir. <br /><br />The colourful posters and banners, which were used in abundance in 2014 Assembly and Parliamentary elections, are missing this time.<br /><br />The Anantnag seat fell vacant after Mehbooba became the chief minister and was elected to the state Assembly.</p>
