• Source:JND
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Polling in the first phase for high-stakes Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir has begun. Voters are exercising their franchise in 24 assembly seats across 7 districts to decide the fate of as many as 219 candidates. Several high-profile candidates are trying their luck in the crucial electoral battle.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's daughter Iltija Mufti is contesting from the Bijbehara seat, while the BJP has fielded Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar.

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As many as 908 candidates are in the fray for 90 seats across the UT. This is the first time that the election has taken place in J-K after the abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state. This election is different in more ways than one as 365 of 908 candidates have charted an independent course to reach the state assembly. This constitutes 40.19 per cent of the total candidates.

This marks the second-highest number of independent candidates in the history of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections since 1967. The only other time such a significant number was recorded was in 2008, after the Amarnath land agitation when 831 of 1,351 in the fray were independent candidates.

The surge in independent candidates reflects a strengthening regional democracy, with new political leaders emerging. Notably, the Sopore constituency in North Kashmir has 22 independent candidates this time, the highest number for any constituency. Interestingly, Sopore was once known for election boycotts, being the hometown of hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Afzal Guru, who was convicted in the Parliament attack case.

However, four constituencies — Budhal, Kangan, Ramnagar, and Sirigufwara-Bijbehara — have no independent candidates. On average, each of the 47 constituencies in Kashmir has about five independent candidates, while in the Jammu division, this number drops to an average of 2.93 per constituency. Bandipora, for instance, has 11 independents out of a total of 20 candidates. In areas like Doda West, Nowshera, and Ramgarh, there is only one independent candidate each.

Political Reactions

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has claimed that the large number of independent candidates has been strategically fielded to divide votes, Jagran.com reported. "We are cautioning our voters to be aware of this," she said, adding that Delhi does not want a unified political voice for Kashmiris.

National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah, contesting from Ganderbal and Budgam, echoed similar sentiments. He stated that the independent candidates are part of a larger plan to silence their voices. In Ganderbal alone, seven out of 15 candidates are independents.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge pointed out that the alliance between Congress and NC has made the BJP nervous, so they are allegedly fielding independents to break the coalition’s chances. According to him, the independents are being used to weaken their candidates.

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BJP’s Stance

BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur dismissed these allegations, stating that democracy allows everyone the right to contest elections. He criticised NC, PDP, and Congress for spreading false narratives about independents. "These parties are already looking for excuses for their defeat," he said.