Lal Chowk: Many Seekers For Kashmir's Political Heart
Lal Chowk, a newly formed assembly seat after the 2022 delimitation exercise, is all set to witness a high-octane contest. Aside from the BJP entering the fray aiming for its first victory, the constituency is also witnessing an interesting poll battle between an uncle-nephew duo from the wealthy Mir family in Srinagar.
Lal Chowk is hailed as Kashmir’s business hub. Previously known as the Amira Kadal constituency, it was after the recent delimitation activities, the parts of Amira Kadal and Sonawar constituencies were joined and renamed as Lal Chowk. Aside from historical importance, Lal Chowk is believed to be Kashmir’s political heart which makes the electoral battle in the constituency more intriguing.
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BJP For First-Ever Victory In Kashmir
The BJP, which never won a single seat in the Kashmir valley, hopes to turn their luck around this time. The party focuses on Lal Chowk where it thinks victory in the seat would facilitate inroads into the valley.
The BJP has fielded Engineer Ajaz, or Aijaz Hussain, the party’s rising face from Srinagar’s Balhama, as their candidate in the polls. He had won the District Development Council (DDC) elections in 2020, in the first electoral contest after the abrogation of Article 37O in 2019.
An engineer by profession, Hussain has been actively involved with the party since 2006. As a Yuva Morcha office bearer, he undertook several responsibilities across India. Aijaz appeared to be confident about his chances in the election. He underlines the development activities carried out by the BJP since the revocation of Article 370 and states, “The people of Kashmir want development and peace . . . They recognize that only the BJP can deliver that,” the News 24 online quotes, as he is saying. He has also requested voters, especially the Muslim community to support him for better representations within the party.
With Hussain’s candidacy in Lal Chowk, the BJP reveals their aim to build a strong narrative in Kashmir. The party is heavily invested in the campaigns in the constituency as well.
Ahsan Pardesi
Ahsan Pardesi is the Provincial Vice President of the NC and constituency in charge of Lal Chowk. He is the son of veteran politician Ghulam Qadir Pardasi, who has shifted allegiances between the NC and PDP several times.
Aside from the strong support from the assembly segment, the NC-Congress alliance may also work in favour of Pardasi in the polls since the grand old party candidates won from the area in the past.
Uncle and Nephew In The Fray
Apni Party candidate Mohammad Ashraf Mir and PDP nominee Zuhaib Mir belonged to the influential Mir family of Srinagar, engaging in the construction business for decades.
Mohammad Ashraf Mir’s political entry was with the PDP in 2008. In 2014 assembly polls, he earned the title ‘giant slayer’ by defeating NC stalwart Omar Abdullah from Sonawer constituency. In 2021, when Altaf Bukhari formed the Apni Party, Mir was one of the leaders who had left the PDP and joined Bukhari. He contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Srinagar, but lost.
During the campaigns, Ashraf emphasises the work he has done in the past; “I have no doors left to knock. I am not doing politics; I am here to serve the people. I have no other motive; my only goal is to serve,” Zee News quotes, as he is saying.
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Meanwhile, Ashraf is facing competition from Zuhaib, the son of Mohammad Yousuf Mir, his elder brother. Zuhaib joined the PDP in January 2022.
During the election campaigns, Zuhaib makes an emotional appeal to the voters and states his commitment to restore Article 370 and abolish stringent and controversial laws such as UAPA and PSA. “I am fighting for the dignity of the people, for the restoration of Article 370, and for the future of Srinagar’s youth,” Zee News quotes, as Zuhaib is saying.
Lal Chowk along with 25 other constituencies going to polls in the second phase.
