Pattan (Baramulla), April 14
It would be a direct contest between two former ministers and colleagues in the Pattan constituency of Baramulla district which is going to polls on April 24.
The by-election is taking place following the vacancy arising due to the resignation of Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari from the National Conference and state Assembly.
Mr Ansari, who later joined the ruling coalition party of the PDP, is pitted in his home constituency against Dr Mustafa Kamaal of the National Conference.
Dr Mustafa
Kamaal, younger brother of the former Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, lost his home constituency of Tangmarg to Mr Ghulam Hassan Mir of the PDP in 2002 Assembly elections.
This is going to be a key contest between the two senior leaders from the
Shia-dominated constituency of north Kashmir, though the Shia vote bank is equally poised between the traditional NC vote and the Congress.
It has been Shia leader Ansari's constituency for he was earlier elected from here three times in 1983 (Congress), 1996 (Congress) and 2002 (NC).
Another Shia leader of the NC, Mr Aga Syed
Mehmood, was elected as the NC candidate from this constituency in 1987 elections.
After Mr Ansari's election in the 1996 as a Congress candidate from here, he joined the National Conference government, led by Dr Farooq Abdullah, without defecting from his parent party.
Apart from the two main contestants, there are two other contestants, Mr Abdul Ahad Najar of the National Panthers Party of Mr Bhim Singh, and an Independent candidate, Mr Nazir Ahmad Mir.
A total of 76,355 voters, including 39,312 male and 37,043 female voters comprise the electorate of this Assembly constituency.
While the National Conference leaders have launched a vehement campaign against Moulvi Iftikhar for changing his loyalty to different political parties from time to time, the Shia leader has been impressing upon his voters citing his role in the development of the area.
Dr Kamaal focuses on the lack of basic amenities to attract the voters in this constituency where he is contesting for the first time.
The former minister impresses upon the people by blaming his opponent (though a former colleague) Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari for "misusing funds" and taking all benefits while in power.
On the other hand, Moulvi Iftikhar has been convincing voters on the benefits and facilities he could get for the people of his constituency during the NC rule.
Both the main contestants, Dr Kamaaal and Moulvi
Iftikhar, however, have been cautious in their approach to attract the voters in this
Shia-dominated area.
But, the Congress, which did not field its candidate owing to the coalition arrangement with its partner PDP, is not happy with the arrangement.
"The Congress vote may go against the coalition and that would be the deciding factor," said a voter here.
The two former colleagues and main candidates in the fray have a tough contest though the ruling parties are trying hard to woe the voters with the slogan of self rule (PDP).
The new ideas after Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service, being floated by the PDP in support of its candidate, include mainly the demand for facilitating the return of Kashmiris settled in Pakistan over the past 16 years.
It is also harping on the ideas of peace and dialogue process that has taken place over the past two years with the second round-table conference being held here next month.
