Hazratbal: Senior PDP Leader Versus NC's New Face
The Hazratbal constituency, historically known as a stronghold of the National Conference (NC), received a jolt with the 2014 Assembly election results. With the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Asiea Naqash, the assembly segment initiated new beginnings, signaling a major shift in the political choice of the electorates. As the constituency is gearing up for another Assembly election, what will be the political situations now at play influencing voters decisions?
Though there are 13 candidates in the fray, the major contest is likely between senior PDP leader Asiea Naqash and NC’s new face, Salman Ali Sagar.
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Asiea Naqash
Asiea, or Asiya Naqash, is a former minister and Additional General Secretary of the PDP. In the 2014 election, her debut contest from the constituency, Asiea garnered 13,234 votes. She defeated NC’s Mohammad Syed Akhoon by a margin of 3,400 votes. Her victory identified a significant political change in the constituency, breaking its long-standing association with NC and ending its dominion over the seat since 1996.
Asiea was then appointed as a minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government. She handled key ministerial portfolios including Health and Medical Education, Housing and Urban Development, Industries and commerce, Power Development, and Social Welfare.
This time, by giving tickets to Asiea for a second term, the PDP is aiming to repeat her previous success. During her campaigns, Naqash focuses on advancing the influence she held on the constituency.
A law graduate, she joined PDP in 2002.
Salman Ali Sagar
Salman Sagar is the son of party general secretary and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar. Although a new face in the electoral politics, he has been active in politics for a long time. Sagar has previously served as the Mayor of Srinagar City in 2008. He has also served as the party’s provincial youth president for Kashmir.
With the candidacy of Salman Sagar, a fresh face, NC is shifting their political strategies to advance their poll prospects in Hazratbal.
Meanwhile, during election campaigns, Salim Sagar pledges on development and emphasises his desire to become a long-term representative of the Hazratbal, rather than contesting this election alone. He promises voters that development will be his top priority if he is elected.
However, the open accusation of Mohammad Sayeed Akhoon, a senior NC leader and former MLA, on the party’s leadership, especially over the decision-making process of selecting candidates for the polls, highlights the internal discontent within the party. Akhoon criticised the party for promoting dynastic politics, and sidelining experienced members in favour of advancing family ties. He pointed examples such as Mian Altaf’s son contesting in Kangan and Ali Mohammad Sagar’s son, Salman Sagar, being given the Hazratbal ticket as “dynastic favouritism”.
Aside from the candidates belonging to traditional arch rivals, the other prominent names in the fray include Shahid Hassan of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Peer Bilal of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), Shadib Khan of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sajad Hussain of the J&K All Alliance Democratic Party, Basit Ahmad of the Nationalists People’s Front, and Basit Hayat of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
The presence of multiple candidates belonging to diverse backgrounds and party leanings could also lead to a division of votes.
Hazratbal is an important constituency in the Assembly polls. As mentioned, a fortress of the NC, the party lost the seat only two times in history—in 1957 and 2014. Similarly, it was the first time in the constituency’s history that a PDP candidate won the seat in 2014.
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Post-Delimitation
The political equations in Hazratbal will also likely be impacted by the 2022 delimitation exercise. The assembly segment is devoid of the Muslim shrine, from which it derived its name. Aside from the mosque, two major localities, which comprise over 2,500 voters, now do not belong to the Hazratbal assembly segment. Mir Behri Dal, a locality known for its considerable Shia voter base, which has been removed from Hazratbal, is currently part of Zadibal constituency.
Hence, how the electoral composition post-delimitation likely to affect the prestigious constituency is also need to be observed.
Hazratbal, along with 25 other constituencies, is scheduled to go for polls in the second phase.
