Political scions at the forefront in Kashmir Valley

With political activities gaining momentum in the Valley ahead of the Assembly elections, which are being held after a gap of 10 years, a fresh breed of political scions is at the forefront here. While most of them are contesting the elections, some are at the forefront of the campaigning for the elections, which are being held in three phases. The Tribune takes a look at the candidates.

Mian Mehar Ali: Mehar is the son of NC veteran Mian Altaf, who is also Lok Sabha MP from the Anantnag- Rajouri seat. Mehar is contesting elections for the first time in the Kangan Assembly constituency, and is fourth generation leader of strong Mian family.

Salman Sagar: Salman is the son of National Conference general secretary and top party leader Ali Mohammad Sagar. Salman, who is party’s youth president, has also served as former Mayor of Srinagar as well. He has been given a mandate from the Hazratbal seat of Srinagar.

Ahsan Pardesi: Ahsan is the son of bureaucrat-turned-politician Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, who is a senior leader of the NC and was earlier associated with the Peoples Democratic Party. Ahsan has been given a mandate from the Lalchowk constituency of Srinagar.

Yawar Banday: Yawar is the grandson of former PDP legislator Abdul Majeed Banday. Yawar’s father Mohammed Shafi Banday also unsuccessfully contested the 2008 Assembly elections. Yawar, who joined the PDP after the abrogation of Article 370, is contesting from the Shopian constituency of South Kashmir.

Tanvir Sadiq: Tanvir, who is chief spokesperson for the National Conference, is the son of former NC MLA Sadiq Ali. Tanvir, who is considered close to Omar Abdullah, will contest from the Zadibal constituency of Srinagar.

Irshad Rasool Kar: Irshad, who hails from North Kashmir, is the son of former MP Ghulam Rasool Kar. He has been given mandate from the Sopore Assembly seat in Baramulla district on the NC ticket. The seat is part of the Congress-National Conference pre-poll alliance.

Sajad Shafi: Sajad is the son of former MP and NC leader Mohd Shafi Uri. Sajad, who is a doctor by profession, has got mandate from North Kashmir’s Uri seat, which his father has represented earlier.

Hilal Akbar Lone: Hilal is the son of former NC MP Akbar Lone. Lone family hails from North Kashmir Bandipora district. It has a traditional vote base in Sonawari. Hilal is contesting from the Sonawari Assembly seat.

Iltija Mufti: ltija, daughter of former CM Mehbooba Mufti, is also the media advisor to Mehbooba Mufti. She is making her first electoral debut in the Assembly elections and is contesting from South Kashmir’s Srigufwara Bijebehra seat. Iltija, came to the spotlight during the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 when she openly talked against the abrogation and handled her mother’s social media accounts.

Apart from those contesting the elections, Abrar Rashid, son of jailed MP Engineer Rashid, is campaigning for a party. While Abrar is not contesting the polls, he is at the forefront of the campaign of Rashid’s Awami Itihad Party.