Kupwara, Oct 6: With a high voter turnout, the political atmosphere in Kupwara district is electric as counting day approaches on October 8.
The battle is fierce, with big names from major parties competing head-to-head in key constituencies, making this one of the most tightly contested elections in the district’s history.
In Kupwara, Nasir Aslam Wani from the National Conference (NC), a seasoned politician and former minister, is up against former Rajya Sabah Member Fayaz Mir of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Both leaders have major followings, and the contest is expected to go down to the wire.
Handwara is witnessing an equally gripping race between People’s Conference (PC) chief Sajad Lone and NC heavyweight Choudary Ramzan, a former minister. Lone, known for his influence in Kashmir politics, faces stiff competition from the former minister, who is aiming to reclaim his constituency.
In Langate, Sheikh Khurshid of the Awami Ittihad Party (AIP) takes on Irfan Pandithpori from PC. Khurshid, brother of sitting Baramulla MP Er Rashid, has the backing of his family’s political legacy, while Pandithpori is putting up a tough fight. Exit polls show this race as a dead heat, with both candidates having an equal chance of victory.
Lolab will witness a close contest between Advocate Dawood from AIP and Kaiser Jamsheed of NC. With both candidates running strong campaigns, this seat remains unpredictable.
In Karnah, NC’s Javid Mirchal will face off against PC’s Dr. Naseer Ahmad, while Trehgam sees a heated contest between PC’s Bashir Ahmad Dar former MLA Kupwara and and NC’s Mir Saifullah, both of whom have a history in the political backdrop of the Kashmir.
With former ministers and high-profile candidates clashing in nearly every constituency, the election results in Kupwara district are the talk of the town. From milk shops and bakeries to barber shops, people are discussing the future of the border district.
There is hope that new leadership will address local issues, and Kupwara has consistently seen high voter turnout in every election. On October 8, all eyes will be on the counting to see which six candidates emerge victorious, marking a new chapter for the district.
