SRINAGAR: Advocate Aasim Hashmi surprised all when he filed his nomination papers for DDC elections from a Doda segment. He has the PAGD mandate from the National Conference quota. His jump into politics was announced on Friday afternoon and on Monday he filed his nomination papers.
Aasim has been the leading lawyer from Doda region who has worked for the community for all these years. He would also practice in the High Court at Jammu if and when required.
A resident of Ghat and practising in the District Court at Doda, Aasim is a close relative of National Conference veteran, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardi. At the time of filing of his nomination, local leaders from NC, PDP and Congress were present.
“I am telling people everywhere I go that I am not a party candidate, Hashmi told Kashmir Life. “I am a candidate chosen by all the parties on basis of the local requirements.”
Aasim is contesting against BJP’s former minister and state vice president BJP, Shakti Raj Parihar. An important player in the region, Parihaar has been very active in his brief period as a minister in BJPDP government. Interestingly, Parihaar is also contesting from Marmat, another Doda DDC segment.
In the last assembly election, Shakti Raj Parihar had ensured a crushing defeat of both the parties, Congress as well as NC. He got 24572 votes and his runner up was Congress’s Abdul Majid Wani who polled 20532 votes.
All districts have been converted into 14 DDC segments by the administration. Aasim and Parihar are contesting from Gundna DDC segment. Interestingly, it is named after Gundna, the fact is that Gundna is actually part of Ghat constituency. Spread over 15 Panchayat’s, this DDC segment is home to the famous Haji School. It is going to polls on December 10 that coincides with the world human rights day.
The Gundna segment is mostly rural and comprises an estimated
18000 votes with the marginal difference between Muslims and non-Muslims. There are three contestants in the fray but the real contest is between Parihar and Assim.
“Given the people that have rallied behind me in the last couple of days suggests that it is possible,” Aasim said. “But it is not going to be a walkover.”
Earlier, Aasim tried to be in politics but could not stay longer. It remains to be seen if he stays put in politics now after jumping into a new election for a newer constituency.
