KL Report
SRINAGAR
While the opening of EVMs on Tuesday had many surprises and shocks for the people of valley, it was a carnival of sorts for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Srinagar, which not only managed to secure their first ever win in Srinagar but clinched five out of total eight seats.
As per the final results, PDP won in Hazratbal, Zadibal, Amira Kadal, Batamaloo and Sonawar assembly segments.
In Hazratbal, Asiea Naqash of PDP defeated Mohammad Syed Akhoon of National Conference by 3400 votes. The situation was similar in Zadibal, where brother of late Shia cleric and senior PDP leader Molvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari, Abid Hussain Ansari won by a margin of 3003 votes against NC’s sitting legislator Peer Aafaq Shah.
PDP’s candidate for Batamaloo, Noor Mohd Sheikh outnumbered former MLA of NC Mohd Irfan Shah by a margin of 4327 votes.
PDP’s decision of giving mandate to businessman-turned-politician Altaf Ahmad Bukhari proved healthier for the party after Bukhari managed to get 5341 votes than Nasir Aslam Wani of NC.
As the day was rare for PDP in Srinagar, it was more than just a mere celebration in Sonawar after lesser known candidate of PDP Mohammad Ashraf Mir defeated chief minister Omar Abdullah who was contesting from Sonawar and Beerwah.
Three sitting MLAs of NC – Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul and Shameema Firdous – were only among NC to retain their respective seats. While as Sagar defeated Khurshid Alam in Khanyar by 1167 votes, Gul won Eidgah by a thin margin of 608 votes.
Shameema Firdous of Habba Kadal won the seat for second time by outnumbering BJP’s Moti Kaul with a difference of 2359 votes.
