Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Election 2024
The political climate of Jammu and Kashmir has changed. Separatist leaders in Kashmir’s politics have long been boycotting elections and threatening to kill people if they vote. After the abrogation of Article 370, the separatists are now seen returning to the polls, abandoning bullets in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. Several separatists have come to try their luck in the assembly elections this time, signaling a major shift in the politics of the Valley.
Engineer Rashid has emerged as a ray of hope for separatists contesting assembly elections. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, separatist leader Engineer Rasheed contested against leaders like Omar Abdullah and Sajjad Lone and became MP by a landslide. Due to which now the separatists have decided to try their luck in the assembly elections. Several leaders belonging to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat, led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, contested the assembly elections.
4 former leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami
Four former leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami (Jammu and Kashmir) have filed as independent candidates in the assembly elections. Talat Majeed is contesting from Pulwama assembly seat, Sair Ahmed Reshi from Kulgam assembly seat, Nazir Ahmed Butt from Deosar assembly seat and Sarjan Ahmed Bage alias Sarjan Barakti alias Azadi Chacha from Janpora assembly seat in Shopian. All four leaders are associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned by the government.
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Tehreek-e-Awam
Jamaat-e-Islami had boycotted democratic activities since 1987. Not only this, Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru’s brother Ejaz Guru is also trying his luck in this election, he is preparing to contest from Sopore Assembly seat in North Kashmir. The separatists have formed a party called Tehreek-e-Awam to contest the elections to be held after the abrogation of Article 370, but the process of registering the party with the Election Commission is yet to be completed. In such a situation, all independents are in the fray.
Salim Gilani joined PDP
Syed Salim Gilani, a member of the Mirwaiz Umar Farooq-led Hurriyat (M) and head of the separatist outfit Jammu and Kashmir National People’s Party, joined the PDP in the presence of Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday. Salim Gilani may contest as PDP candidate from Srinagar’s Khanyar seat, where he will face National Conference general secretary and six-time MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar. Hurriyat-affiliated Agha Syed Hasan has also joined PDP. Three members of the Aga family are planning to contest the elections. Agha Syed Muntzir, Agha Syed Ahmed and Agha Syed Mahmood.
Agha Mahmood and Agha Syed
Agha Mehmood is likely to contest on a National Conference ticket, while Agha Syed Ahmed will contest on an Awami National Conference (ANC) ticket, which will try to win the support of Shia voters in all constituencies. Srinagar parliamentary seat MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi belongs to the same Aga clan, which is politically divided into different parties. Agha Syed Muntajir said his decision to contest and join the mainstream was not for power, but to raise the voice of the marginalized youth.
Salim Gilan from Hurriyat Conference
Salim Geelani is not known to many in Kashmir, but he was an important member of the Mirwaiz group, as in 2005 he was named by the Hurriyat Conference as the interlocutor for the return talks of Kashmiri Pandits. Salim quit the Mirwaiz-led Hurriyat Conference in 2015. Salim said that he has been associated with the Hurriyat Conference for 35 years and is still proud of his past association with the Hurriyat and is now equally proud to join a mainstream party.
Mehbooba Mufti thanked
Mehbooba Mufti thanked the Hurriyat leader for joining the party and said that she wanted the new members to contest the next elections on the PDP ticket. Apart from this, the PDP chief hoped that the former Hurriyat leader would help the party in Srinagar and if he wants to contest the door is open for him.
Talat Majeed from Jamaat-e-Islami
Meanwhile, Talat Majeed, associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, said that considering the current political situation in Jammu and Kashmir, I believe now is the time to participate in the election process. From today my opinion on the Kashmir issue is public knowledge. Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat Conference should proceed keeping in view the current political climate. As Kashmiris we should not live in the past but in the present and try to move forward for a better future.
Victory and defeat of Jamaat-e-Islami
In Jammu and Kashmir, before 1987, Jamaat-e-Islami tried its luck in almost every assembly election. In the 1972 elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Jamaat-e-Islami contested 22 seats and got 5 MLAs elected. After this, in the 1977 assembly elections, after contesting 19 seats, he managed to win only one seat, while in the 1983 elections, he fielded 26 candidates and lost all of them. After this, in 1987, four members of the Jamaat won elections in Kashmir under the banner of the Muslim United Front. After this, Jamaat-e-Islami did not participate in the democratic process and now they have come to try their luck in the elections being held after the abrogation of Article 370.
Like Engineer Rashid
The separatist leaders are boycotting the elections in Jammu and Kashmir, but this time their election preparations signal a major shift in the valley’s politics. The change is being seen as an important moment in the politics of south Kashmir, where Jamaat-e-Islami has historically had significant influence in the Valley. Apart from this, many Hurriyat leaders have also joined it. In such a situation, it remains to be seen whether separatist leaders like Engineer Rashid who are contesting assembly elections will be able to win and reach the assembly.
