However, law allows every citizen to contest polls from anywhere in the country
Srinagar: As the polling dates for Lok Sabha elections are nearing, in Kashmir, the choice of candidates by different political parties is generating debate within the political circles as well as commoners.
The old grand party of J&K, National Conference (NC) has decided to support Congress in Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh but has fielded its candidates on all three LS seats of Kashmir Valley.
In Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch seat, the party has fielded Mian Altaf. He is from Kangan and not enlisted as a voter in the constituency wherefrom he is contesting.
Aga Ruhullah is contesting from Srinagar constituency while as he too is not enlisted as a voter in this constituency as he hails from Budgam, which after delimitation, is part of Baramulla-Kupwara LS seat.
Likewise, NC’s Vice President, Omar Abdullah is contesting from Baramulla-Kupwara where he is not enlisted as a voter. But the saving grace is that he represented Beerwah Assembly constituency as MLA that now is part of north Kashmir LS seat.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has fielded Mehbooba Mufti from south Kashmir-Rajouri segment and she is enlisted as a voter there; Waheed Parra from Srinagar and Fayaz Mir from Baramulla – both are enlisted as voters in their contesting constituencies.
Peoples Conference (PC) has fielded Sajad Lone from Baramulla-Kupwara constituency and he too is enlisted as voter there.
Apni Party has fielded M Ashraf Mir from Srinagar, where he figures in the voter list and Zaffar Iqbal Manhas for south Kashmir who doesn’t figure in the voting list there as his area in Shopian is now part of Srinagar LS constituency.
If Ghulam Nabi Azad decides to contest from south Kashmir-Rajouri seat, he too will be a non-voter in the segment.
Though the law allows every citizen to contest polls from anywhere in the country, the local factor has its own importance as the voters feel more closeness towards the one whom they see as part of their own segment.
