Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Sep 12: The Zadibal constituency is shaping up to be a highly contested political battleground in the upcoming 2024 assembly elections. The last winning candidate from the constituency in 2014, Abid Hussain Ansari, was then contesting on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ticket but now represents the People’s Conference (PC).
The erstwhile state will undergo polling in three phases, with a total of 90 assembly constituencies in J&K, one of which is Zadibal.
The main contesting political parties in Zadibal include the National Conference (NC) and Congress alliance, PC, PDP, Apni Party, and six independent candidates.
Constituency demographic profile
Zadibal is one of the notified areas under Srinagar municipality and one of the 90 constituencies in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. It is located about 6 km north of Kashmir’s commercial centre, Lal Chowk. Zadibal is predominantly inhabited by Shia Muslims and is known for having the oldest Imambara in Kashmir (Imambara Zadibal), located in the heart of the constituency.
The area is bordered by Nowshera to the north, Hawal and Nowhatta to the south, Lal Bazar and Badamwari to the east, and Khushal Sar Lake to the west.
Zadibal Assembly 2014 (Candidates and Parties)
During the 2014 assembly polls, 14 nominations were filed for the Zadibal constituency, with 13 accepted, including PDP’s Abid Hussain Ansari, NC’s Peer Afaq Ahmad, and INC’s Shameema Raina.
In 2014, the constituency, which had 76,915 electors (40,065 males and 36,849 females), recorded a poll percentage of 23.93%. The winning candidate, Abid Hussain Ansari, secured 7,852 votes, defeating runner-up Peer Afaq Ahmad of NC, who garnered 4,849 votes. Ansari’s victory margin was 3,003 votes, positioning him as a formidable contender for the upcoming election.
Notably, the deposits of 11 candidates in the constituency were forfeited during the 2014 assembly elections.
Poll date
The first phase of the election will be conducted by the ECI on September 18, the second on September 25, and the final phase on October 1. The Zadibal Assembly seat will go to polls in the second phase.
Result date
After the three phases conclude, the results for all 90 constituencies, including Zadibal, will be declared on October 8.
Assembly election 2024 candidates
The political contest in the Zadibal constituency this time is poised to be interesting, with PC’s Ansari and NC fielding Tanvir Sadiq, who has close ties with NC’s top leadership.
Sadiq has prior experience contesting elections from the Zadibal constituency, having run as an independent candidate in the 2008 assembly elections, where he was the third runner-up, securing 2,759 votes. His deep connections within the NC structure give him a competitive edge in this election.
For the forthcoming assembly elections, a total of 15 nominations were filed for the Zadibal constituency, of which only 10 were accepted after scrutiny. Four nominations were rejected, and one candidate withdrew.
Among the notable candidates for the 2024 assembly elections is former MLA and senior leader of the Shia Association, Abid Hussain Ansari.
Interestingly, former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, who recently left Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party, is contesting as an independent candidate from Zadibal. His prior role as mayor gives him significant local visibility.
Tanvir Hussain Pathan, a young political entrant from the Apni Party, is also in the fray. Although he lacks the extensive political experience of others, his candidacy might attract a segment of the electorate seeking fresh leadership.
With Ansari’s departure, PDP has fielded Sheikh Gowhar Ali. The party’s performance in the constituency is crucial, given that Ansari had previously won under their banner.
Six independent candidates, including Burhan Bashir Bazaz, Aasiful Hassan, Mirza Sajad Hussain Beigh, Junaid Azim Mattu, Sheikh Masood John, and Mohammad Omar Hafiz, are also contesting from the constituency. Although independents generally face an uphill battle, they may influence the vote shares of larger parties in Zadibal’s fiercely competitive environment.
The Zadibal constituency now has a total electorate of 112,864, with 56,408 males and 56,451 females. There are a total of 143 polling stations.
In comparison to 2014, when 14 nominations were filed and 13 accepted, the 2024 election will see 10 candidates competing from an initial 15 nominations.
Voter dynamics & polling trends
In 2014, the constituency witnessed a relatively low voter turnout of 23.93%, with deposits forfeited by 11 out of 13 candidates due to poor performance.
The 2024 assembly election in Zadibal is expected to be highly competitive, with several prominent faces vying for the seat, including a mix of experienced politicians and new entrants.
Experts believe that the voter base has expanded, with an increase in electors, indicating a potentially higher turnout in 2024. They add that the presence of notable independent candidates further adds intrigue to the contest.
