Shopian calls for action: Broader policies, tourism boost, jobs, and Apple industry promotion

As the polling date for the first phase of elections approaches, campaigning has picked up pace in the Shopian Assembly Constituency. Voters from areas like Keller, Keegam, and parts of the Shopian tehsil are keenly monitoring the agendas of contesting candidates.
The educated electorate is advocating for candidates to focus on broader policies that benefit the entire population, rather than limiting their promises to local issues such as roads, water supply, and electricity.
Mudasir Ahmad, a resident of Shopian, urged candidates to prioritize consumer-friendly policies aimed at controlling the rising cost of essential items like electricity and cooking gas. He stressed that addressing inflation would benefit both the wealthy and the poor, and emphasized the need to promote Shopian’s tourism potential, which previous governments have neglected. Ahmad hopes that the winning candidate will work towards promoting tourist spots like Dubjan and Pir Ki Gali, which could generate employment for the region’s youth.
Shopian, known for its high-quality apple production, has faced unfavorable weather conditions over the past eight years, damaging local orchards. Ahmad called on future representatives to provide subsidized hail nets to protect these orchards and suggested that promoting the local apple industry and raising import duties on foreign apples could help local producers.
Amir Manzoor, who holds a doctorate in Mathematics, expressed his desire for the new representative to introduce specialized degree courses at Government Degree College Shopian. Currently, students must travel to other districts for such courses. Manzoor also stressed the need for job creation for local youth and advocated for a re-evaluation of the summer session in Kashmir schools, citing its incompatibility with local conditions.
Ummar Farooq, a young voter with a B-Tech in Electronics and Communication from Panzer Keegam, expressed support for a candidate who would promise to establish private industries in Shopian. He noted the scarcity of government posts available for Electronics and Communication graduates and emphasized that a private industrial setup could provide opportunities for local youth.
The Shopian constituency, with approximately 100,541 voters—including 50,748 males, 49,793 females, and five transgender individuals—has seen representation by PDP in the past. In 2008, the seat was won by PDP’s Abdul Razaq Wagay, followed by Mohammad Yousuf Bhat in 2014. This year, 11 candidates are vying for the seat, including PDP’s Yawar Shafi, BJP’s Javid Ahmad Qadri, NC’s Sheikh Mohammad Rafi, and AP’s Ovais Mushtaq Khan. Political analysts predict a triangular contest between PDP, NC, and independent candidate Shabir Kullay.