rediff.com: Migrant votes a deciding factor in Habbakadal

Situated along the bank of river Jhelum, Habbakadal assembly constituency is the only segment in the Kashmir valley where migrant votes would be a deciding factor in sending one of the 11 candidates to the ninth legislative state assembly.

Nine candidates contesting this year's assembly polls are Kashmiri pandits banking mainly on 23,233 migrant votes in Jammu, Delhi and Udhampur.

Besides the migrant votes, the assembly constituency has 58,343 votes of the majority community who have been threatened by militants against casting their votes.

"We may try to keep away from the polls as militants have said they would not even spare a six-year-old child defying their diktat," Abdul Mir, a shopkeeper in the area, said.

Mir may not be an isolated case in the assembly constituency in the light of the fact that only 10,022 votes were cast in the last assembly polls.

Traditionally a National Conference stronghold, there will be a multi-cornered contest with candidates relying mainly on migrant votes from places outside the valley.

Among the front runners for the seat are Raman Mattoo, a rebel NC candidate, who is contesting as an independent after the ruling party decided not to give him a ticket.

Mattoo, who was earlier the block president of NC and has been campaigning in this assembly segment, has an upper edge over other Pandit candidates as there is a widespread opinion that he has been betrayed by the ruling party, which has fielded Shameema Firdous.

Firdous has been seen actively campaigning in the assembly segement, banking completely on door-to-door canvassing.

However, some are of the opinion that the anti-incumbency factor may play a role in the segment as people feel that the state government has done precious little to remove unemployment.

"They [state government] came to power in 1996 only to do good to their own families. With this nepotistic attitude, rich became richer while poor became poorer," alleges unemployed Mehboob.

With such sentiments prevailing high in this assembly constituency, Firdous may have a tough time in retaining the seat for her party.

In the earlier eight elections held in this segment, NC candidates were elected to the assembly six times, while a Congress and an independent bagged the seat once each.

Other main contenders for the seat are Ashok Kak (Independent), B K Vashnovi (People's Democratic Party), R L Bhan (Panthers Party), Sanjay Saraf (Lok Jan Shakti), Kakaji (Independent), S K Tickoo (Awami League) and H L Chatta (BJP).


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