Handwara: Epicentre of north Kashmir’s electoral firestorm

Kupwara, Sep 28: In the high-stakes political theater of north Kashmir, all roads lead to Handwara, where a dramatic showdown looms ahead of the October 1 elections.Known for its history of fierce rivalries and political intrigue, this assembly segment is all set for its most explosive contest yet. The titans of Jammu and Kashmir politics; JK National Conference (JKNC) and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) are locking horns in a battle that has captivated the north. But there is a wildcard: Engineer Rashid’s Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), which stunned everyone with over 19,000 votes in the recent parliamentary polls and stood on second spot. This is not just a two-horse race anymore; this three-way contest could change political landscape of Handwara.According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Handwara has 98956 registered voters, comprising 50228 males, 48726 females and 2 transgender. A total of 1721 youth will vote for the first time as they have attained the maximum age required to cast their vote. 2300 migrant voters including 1127 males and 1173 females are supposed to franchise their electoral right. A considerable number of home voters including 91 Person with Disabilities (PwDs) and 100 senior citizens will use their democratic right to choose their representative who will represent them in the Legislative Assembly (LA).According to the official data available 120 polling stations have been set up across the constituency which is spread over five tehsils including Drugmulla, Handwara, Tarathpora, Vilgam and Zachaldara.