Anger against PDP, BJP helps NC perform well in Pir Panjal

National Conference (NC) has been able to break into the stronghold of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Pir Panjal range of Rajouri and Poonch districts. The party, which won only one seat in the region in 2014, has managed to grab four of the eight seats this time.

Till the 2014 Assembly polls, there were seven seats in the twin districts along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. However, after the delimitation of 2022, Thannamandi seat was added in Rajouri, which has been won by an Independent candidate this time.

The eight seats in the two districts include Thannamandi, Rajouri, Budhal, Nowshera and Kalakote-Sunderbani in Rajouri district while Poonch Haveli, Mendhar and Surankote in Poonch district.

NC’s Surinder Choudhary triumphed over Ravinder Raina, who is the UT BJP president, from Nowshera seat, while party’s Javaid Iqbal, Ajaz Ahmed Jan and Javed Ahmed Rana won from Budhal, Poonch Haveli and Mendhar seats, respectively.

Two Independents—Muzaffar Iqbal Khan and Choudhary Mohammad Akram—won from Thannamandi and Surankote while BJP’s Randhir Singh won from Kalakote-Sunderbani seat. The lone Congress candidate Iftkar Ahmed won from Rajouri seat.

Row over reservation to the Pahari speaking people of Rajouri and Poonch under ST category and critically polarised atmosphere besides anger among Muslim population against PDP to go with the BJP after 2014 polls are believed to be some of the reasons behind NC’s positive show in the region.

“BJP was expecting victory in Thannamandi which has significant Pahari population. However, the card of ST quota to the community doesn’t seem to have played any role. On the other hand, the Gujjar and Bakerwal population, which earlier sided with the saffron party, also expressed their anger against the party” said a senior BJP leader said.

Gujjars and Bakerwals, who already enjoy ST reservation, had warned the BJP that giving quota to Paharis under the same category will cost the party politically.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had earlier this year been defeated from the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, which includes Rajouri and Poonch districts, by NC candidate Mian Altaf by a significant margin. There were indications that her party might not be able to turn the tables in the region in Assembly polls.

In 2014, PDP had won from Poonch Haveli, Rajouri and Darhal (now Budhal). The NC had won only the Mendhar seat.