Mubashir Aalam Wani
Srinagar, Sep 19: The Karnah assembly segment in Kupwara district is set to witness a direct contest between Peoples Conference and National Conference, the traditional arch-rivals in this district.
With over 57000 voter population, the segment would witness a direct fight between Dr. Naseer Awan (PC) and Javid Ahmad Mirchal (NC). The seat will go to the polls in the third phase of J&K elections on October 01.
While PC is banking on its traditional vote bank and goodwill of its candidate Dr. Naseer Awan, National Conference is relying on the support base of Mirchal.
NC’s decision to field Mirchal has not gone with the party cadre in the segment, with three-time MLA and veteran politician Kafeel-ul-Rehman rebelling against the move.
In an advantage to PC, Kafeel-ul-Rehman has thrown his weight behind Dr. Naseer Awan, a renowned surgeon and former professor of Government Medical College Srinagar.
Mirchal, who was a MLC in the PDP-BJP government, quit the PDP after abrogation of Article 370 and joined Apni Party launched by Altaf Bukhari in March 2020.
Days after the announcement of assembly polls by the Election Commission of India, Mirchal joined the National Conference.
The other candidates in the fray include Firdous Ahmad Mir, Raja Manzoor Khan, Fayaz Ahmad, Sajid Ahmad Mir, Sajawal Shah and Muhammad Idrees.
The main issues dominating the electoral discourse in this Pahari-majority segment are grant of ST status to Paharis by the Union Government and demand for construction of a tunnel to ensure round-the –year connectivity to the region.
