In Valley, leaders’ children strike chord with electors

As the campaigning for the third and final phase of the J&K Assembly poll ended on Sunday, this election season also saw children of political leaders joining the campaigning either for their parents or for party candidates.

The Tribune brings to fore several cases, from south to north and central Kashmir, where children of political leaders joined the campaigning. In several cases, they also became the face of the campaign.

Sugra Barkati: The 17-year-old daughter of jailed cleric and pro-separatist Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, alias Sarjan Barkati, who contested the elections from two seats of Central Kashmir, did extensive campaigning for her father. She became a face of the poll campaign and also tried to strike an emotional chord with the electors.

Zahir & Zamir Abdullah: Sons of former chief minister and National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah, the duo embarked on a campaign mission for Omar, who is contesting from two seats - Ganderbal and Budgam. From participating in poll rallies to joining the candidates in filling nominations, Zahir and Zamir remained at the forefront in the ongoing Assembly elections.

Abrar Rashid: Son of Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, Abrar campaigned for candidates who are contesting the elections and are backed by his father’s party. Abrar became a face for his jailed father from Baramulla in the Lok Sabha elections. Abrar continued the campaign for the party in the ongoing Assembly elections as well.

Faisal Mir: Son of Peoples Democratic Party leader Fayaz Ahmad Mir, who is contesting from the Kupwara Assembly segment of North Kashmir, Faisal is reaching out to different areas of the Assembly segment seeking support for his father. Faisal, a student, even supported his father in the campaign in the Lok Sabha elections, when he contested from the Baramulla parliamentary seat.

Sadam Riyaz Bedar: Son of former J&K Police officer Javaid Riyaz Bedar, who is now contesting from the Pattan Assembly segment of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Sadam has been campaigning for his father. He is also attending poll rallies.

Sofia Azad: Daughter of former Chief Minister and chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sofia campaigned in support of party candidates along with his father in South Kashmir, which went to the polls in the first phase. Sofia also addressed one of the rallies.

Asif Majeed Padder: Son of Apni party leader Abdul Majeed Padder, who is contesting from the Damhal Hanjipora Assembly seat of Kulgam district, Asif accompanied his father in the poll rallies for which voting took place in the phase first.

Daughters of jailed contestant: Two minor daughters - 5 year old and 10 year old - of Shoaib Sheikh, who is in jail under the Public Safety Act and is contesting from the Sopore Assembly segment, were accompanied by Sheikh’s father Mohammed Haneef Sheikh. They campaigned so that their father could be released from jail.