SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, June 07: The recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency of Jammu and Kashmir revealed the significant influence of religious and sympathy votes on the electoral outcome. This election demonstrated how deeply ingrained these factors are in the region’s political fabric, shaping not only voter behavior but also the strategies of political parties and candidates.
Victory of National Conference
The National Conference (NC) candidate, Mian Altaf Ahmad, emerged victorious with a significant margin, defeating his closest rival and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, by 281,749 votes. This decisive win underscores the NC’s ability to resonate with the electorate’s sentiments and the party’s deep-rooted connections at the grassroots level.
Vote Share for National Conference (Mian Altaf Ahmad):
Zainapora: 18,945
D.H Pora: 28,460
Kulgam: 19,864
Devsar: 16,545
Dooru: 29,832
Kokernag: 25,542
Anantnag West: 17,097
Anantnag: 7,626
Srigufwara Bijbehara: 17,698
Shangus Anantnag East: 19,300
Pahalgam: 15,601
Nowshera: 27,388
Rajouri ST: 35,339
Budhal ST: 44,920
Thanamandi ST: 53,751
Surankote: 49,425
Poonch Haveli: 47,424
Mendhar: 41,796
Migrant at Jammu: 913
Migrant at Udhampur: 21
Migrant at Delhi: 2
Postal votes: 4,347
The National Conference’s robust performance in regions like Thanamandi ST (53,751), Budhal ST (44,920), and Rajouri ST (35,339) highlights their stronghold in these areas. The party’s ability to mobilize votes across diverse sections of society is evident from these figures.
People’s Democratic Party’s Struggles
The PDP, led by former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, struggled to garner votes comparable to the NC. Despite Mufti’s prominent political stature, the PDP’s vote share fell short in several key areas.
Vote Share for People’s Democratic Party (Mehbooba Mufti):
Zainapora: 14,089
D.H Pora: 13,543
Kulgam: 11,992
Devsar: 16,218
Dooru: 9,802
Kokernag ST: 10,152
Anantnag West: 17,935
Anantnag: 8,168
Srigufwara Bijbehara: 20,072
Shangus Anantnag East: 16,217
Pahalgam: 11,122
Nowshera: 3,339
Rajouri ST: 3,123
Budhal ST: 5,294
Thanamandi ST: 13,774
Surankote: 17,989
Poonch Haveli: 18,456
Mendhar: 26,483
Migrant at Jammu: 437
Migrant at Udhampur: 4
Postal votes: 1,832
The PDP’s weaker performance in traditionally strong regions, like Kokernag ST (10,152) and Budhal ST (5,294), reflects the challenges the party faced in connecting with the electorate’s evolving preferences.
Apni Party’s Position
Apni Party’s candidate Zafar Iqbal Manhas managed to secure a significant number of votes in certain areas, reflecting its emerging presence in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.
Vote Share for Apni Party (Zafar Iqbal Manhas):
Zainapora: 4,932
D.H Pora: 7,430
Kulgam: 2,132
Devsar: 3,931
Dooru: 3,853
Kokernag: 4,005
Anantnag West: 3,036
Anantnag: 1,191
Srigufwara Bijbehara: 2,313
Shangus Anantnag East: 3,133
Pahalgam: 5,892
Nowshera: 24,352
Rajouri ST: 20,373
Budhal: 10,552
Thanamandi ST: 12,802
Surankote: 6,059
Poonch Haveli: 13,445
Mendhar: 4,938
Migrant at Jammu: 6,631
Migrant at Udhampur: 259
Migrant at Delhi: 57
Postal votes: 879
The Apni Party’s relatively strong showing in Nowshera (24,352) and Rajouri ST (20,373) indicates its potential to be a significant player in future elections.
Independent Candidates and Their Impact
Independent candidates also played a notable role in this election, collectively securing a considerable number of votes. This highlights a segment of the electorate seeking alternatives outside the traditional party frameworks.
Vote Share for Independent Candidates:
Arshid Ahand Lone: 6,389
Imtiyaz Ahmad: 7,013
Javeed Ahmad: 1,562
Sudarshan Singh: 2,382
Sheikh Muzaffar Ahmad: 4,814
Mohammad Saleem Parray: 25,561
Mohammad Maqbool Teli: 2,748
Baldev Kumar: 6,189
Dilip Kumar Pandita: 3,722
Ravendra Singh: 2,962
Sajad Ahmad Dar: 8,004
Sushil Kumar Sharma: 9,228
Abdul Rouf Malik: 10,582
Abdul Rouf Naik: 9,149
Ali Mohammad Wani: 5,255
Gulshan Akhter: 2,807
Imran Sheikh: 7,485
The strong performance of Mohammad Saleem Parray (25,561) as an independent candidate showcases the potential for non-affiliated candidates to make a significant impact, particularly when they can appeal to specific local issues or sentiments.
The Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha elections have underscored the critical role of religious and sympathy votes in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape. The results highlight the importance of grassroots engagement and understanding the unique needs of the local population. As political parties strategize for future elections, these elements will remain central to their efforts to connect with and mobilize voters.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
