by Babra Wani
SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference’s Sakeena Masood Itoo is leading by a large margin, making her the only female candidate leading in all constituencies across Jammu and Kashmir.
Sakeena, who contested from the Damhal Hanjipora constituency, has managed to secure a lead of 11,514 votes. Gulzar Ahmad Dar of the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party is trailing behind, followed by Mohd Arif Dar, an independent candidate.
Notably, JKNC’s women candidates are emerging strong, with Shamim Firdous leading in Habba Kadal.
Sakina Itoo, throughout her career, has survived twenty assassination attempts and was once one of only two female politicians in Kashmir.
A mostly mountainous area, the Damhal Hanjipora (DH Pora) assembly, formerly called Noorabad, is the remotest of the three Kulgam constituencies. Historically, it has seen high participation in elections, with a polling rate of 68 per cent, one of the highest in the region.
The area’s electoral history is marked by significant political shifts, notable victories, and closely contested elections, making the upcoming poll highly competitive.
Itoo’s connection with these villages runs deep, harkening back to the days of her father, the late Wali Mohammed Itoo, a prominent political figure who represented the same constituency multiple times before being killed by militants in 1994.
Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference is leading in more than 40 constituencies. The first win of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections has been secured by the National Conference in the Gurez constituency of Bandipora district. Nazir Ahmad Khan, popularly known as Nazir Gurezi, emerged victorious with 8,322 votes, defeating BJP candidate Faqeer Mohammad Khan, who secured 7,219 votes. He won by a margin of 1,049 votes.
Leading the charge is JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah, who is contesting from both Budgam and Ganderbal. He has taken a comfortable lead, securing a margin of 8,612 votes in Budgam and 5,144 votes in Ganderbal. During his campaign in Ganderbal, he made an emotional appeal to voters, holding his cap in his hands and pleading for their support.