Will a resurgent PDP halt Rather’s 37-yr march in Chrar? CONSTITUENCY PROFILE Chrar-i-Sharief, National Conference’s sitting MLA from Kangan, Mian Altaf, addressed a small gathering of people in Nilnag, a village nestled in Yusmarg forests in this central Kashmir constituency. Inhabited largely by Gujjars, Nilnag, with few hundred electorate strength, is situated on the edge of this constituency where people rarely see politicians. While the function in the middle of election season in J&K didn’t attract any media attention, Gujjar stalwart Altaf’s drive to far off corner of Char to seek votes for his party colleague Abdul Rahim Rather highlighted the concerns in the ranks an files of National Conference over the fate of this constituency which is going to polls in next four days. Char is one among the few segments in J&K where National Conference has maintained its impeccable winning record for close to four decades, even at times when the party lost its political backyard, Ganderbal, to opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2002.NC’s date with Char started in 1972 when Rather, then a little known law graduate, tried his luck against Congress’ bigwig Abdul Qayoom. Rather lost badly by more than 16000 votes that year. But things dramatically changed in 1977 elections as Rather emerged victorious. The results marked the beginning of the NC leader’s long political career from here. Election after election he continued his winning streak, while the weak opposition only pushed his political ambitions. Rather doesn’t come across as a firebrand politician. But having held the position of State Finance Minister more than anyone else, the senior NC leader from Badipora, a village in Nagam here, has been relying more on arithmetical calculations and his own style of electoral politics to deliver. His reaching out tohis vote bank in ‘selected’ pockets, and his claims of infusing development across the constituency – though there are not many signsvisible across the constituency, handed over Rather 6th straight win in 2008. While statistics may favor Rather, his move to rope in Mian Altaf, probably for the first time, goes on to highlight that this election would be the toughest battle of his political career. Without taking any chances, he is using every weapon in his armory to deliver for the 7th time, knowing well that the curtains could fall for him, may be for ever, if his calculations prove wrong this time. There are many reasons which explain National Conference’s worries on its favorite turf. But Rather’s biggest concern has been loss of the vote bank in villages circling the Chrar town, which see large participation in elections. They allege having been let down by their party.However at the center of the NC’s concern is slow but constant rise of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the constituency. In its 12-year electoral politics from this constituency, the PDP has not only built its own vote-bank, also comprising of one-time supporters of Congress’ Abdul Qayoom, but the party has capitalized on the dissent against the NC and erosion of its voters in peripheral villages from Kanidajan to Panzan right up to boundaries of Chadoora constituency on one side and Dalwan- Futlipora Chrawni on the other side towards Pulwama. What infused renewed energy in PDP’s poll plans for Chrar this time around was the parliament poll result in May this year. Though the party candidate for the Assembly elections, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura, suffered two consecutive defeats at the hands of Rather since 2002 elections, the party continued to repose faith in the old horse and reaped rewards in Lok Sabha polls.National Conference’s candidate for Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Dr Farooq Abdullah, lost to PDP’s Tariq Hameed Karra as Chrar, which had always handed over decisive lead to NC in the General Elections in the past, turned the tables in favor of the PDP. For the first time, the PDP tasted victory from Chrar and the results showed dissent against Rather as well as the changing electoral picture in scores of villages which had traditionally pledged their loyalty to NC. The LS poll outcome also showed which way the wave had swung in the main Chrar town that saw people in large numbers exercising their franchise. The constituency owes its identity to revered Sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) whose abode is located in the heart of the town. Every year politicians queue up outside the shrine on religious occasions but successive governments have failed to complete reconstruction work of the religious place and the town, almost 20 years after the place was gutted in a fire following a fierce gunfight between holed up militants and security forces in May 1995.The delay in reconstruction is not the only thing people talk about in the town. A generation of educated youth is jobless in this constituency. Basic facilities like power and water supply are found inadequate. Riding on anti-incumbency against Rather and its expanding vote base, the PDP is eagerly looking forward to rewrite electoral results from this constituency, for the first time after 1977. The party at the least would be expecting to repeat its LS poll performance. However, Rather knows what is at stake: his 37-year long political career. That explains why he has for the first time roped in his businessman son, Hilal Rather, in campaigning. The move reaffirms the tough nature of the contest Rather would be locked in with the PDP. The junior Rather has been camping in Chrar town for the past few days, knowing well that the town could once again come to play a decisive role in the final results. Hilal has two pronged strategy – to reach out to disgruntled voters and villagers and gain popularity among young voters, particularly from town and its surrounding villages. For PDP, to underestimate Rather would be political naivety as the NC man has moved up the ladder of his political career from here only, and they know that he understands the constituency as well as mood of its people well. The poll boycott has lesser takers here and the constituency is expected to once again take the polling percentage on the higher side. On the D-Day, a neck to neck battle between Rather andLone is expected, though the odds may be titled in favour of Lone. Congress’ Zahid Hussain Jan and Sajjad Lone-led Peoples Conferences’ Latief Ahmad Gash, both natives of Chrar town, would be, among others, competing for third and fourth positions. In 2008, Rather polled 24,579 votes and PDP’s Lone bagged 18,204. The electoral strength of this constituency has today grown to 78,021 voters.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 02:58:31 +0000
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