Women candidates make their mark in J&K Assembly

Srinagar, Oct 08: In a historic Assembly election, three women candidates emerged victorious in the newly formed 90-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. This includes two candidates from the National Conference (NC) in the Kashmir Valley and one newcomer from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Jammu region.
Sakeena Masood Itoo won the D H Pora seat in Kulgam district with 36,623 votes, defeating Gulzar Ahmed Dar, who polled 19,174 votes. She has a successful history in this constituency, having previously won the Noorabad seat in 1996 and 2008. Her father, Wali Mohammad Itoo, has also represented this area multiple times.
Another notable winner, Shamim Firdous of the National Conference, defeated BJP candidate Ashok Kumar Bhat in the Habbakadal seat of Srinagar district, winning by 9,538 votes. She received 12,437 votes and has been a prominent figure in this constituency, having previously won in 2008 and 2014.
In Jammu region, Shagun Parihar, the sole female candidate from the BJP, achieved a narrow victory in the Kishtwar constituency, defeating veteran National Conference leader Sajad Ahmed Kitchloo by just 521 votes. She garnered 29,053 votes, while Kitchloo received 28,532.
Parihar expressed her gratitude to the people of Kishtwar, stating, “I bow before the people of Kishtwar for their faith in me and my party. Their support is deeply appreciated. I am humbled by their endorsement,” she said.
“My victory represents the will of the nationalist people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Parihar said.
Despite these victories, the elections also brought setbacks for some prominent candidates. Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, lost in the Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat, securing 23,529 votes but falling short by 9,770 votes against National Conference’s Bashir Ahmad Veeri, who received 33,299 votes. Additionally, former PDP minister Asiea Naqash was defeated in the Hazratbal seat.
In total, 41 women contested in this election, a notable increase from 24 in 2014. In 2008, there were 67 female candidates, with only three emerging victorious.
Meanwhile, the NC-Congress alliance crossed the 46-seat majority mark, securing 48 seats . The NC won the highest number of seats at 42 while the Congress took six. The BJP won 29 seats, while the PDP secured three. Seven Independents were declared victorious.