The Hindu : Baramulla awaits peaceful poll

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 18, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Baramulla awaits peaceful poll

BARAMULLA, MARCH 17. The Jammu and Kashmir's troubled Baramulla parliamentary constituency hopes to vote peacefully on April 20 for the first time in its electoral history, thanks to the fresh peace initiatives taken by India and Pakistan since April 2003.

Elections in this northern district have almost always been marred by guerrilla violence. But with India and Pakistan making a bid for peace, the locals are hopeful about their candidates raising new issues other than peace and security during their campaign.

"We will evaluate which ever political representative is contesting. We will see who is good and can solve our problems. We want that candidate," said Mohammed Hassan, a local resident.

Muslim-dominated Baramulla last voted for the opposition Congress party in 1967 and 1971 and has been a supporter of the State's opposition National Conference (NC) ever since.

Local politicians are of the view that a better turnout would change the State's political scenario.

"In the last elections there was an atmosphere of terror, it was difficult for people to come out, so there was very less percentage of voting. But now, though we cannot say that there is due to the way talks have come about between India and Pakistan. The terror among people has been less," said Mir Khurshed, a former law-maker of the local Jammu Kashmir Muttahida Samaj.

"We will present the things of development and other things in front of the people and we are ready to face people," said Mohammed Vakil, a Congress party leader.

In the outgoing 13th Lok Sabha, the NC had four law-makers. The BJP had the other two seats.

In the last Assembly elections in 2002, the NC was voted out of power, and replaced by the People's Democratic Party (PDP)-Congress Party alliance.

The present ruling alliance is rumoured to be having a tussle over which candidate to field in Baramulla. Taking advantage of this confusion, the BJP has decided to field Mohammed Akbar Khan. As of now, he will be opposed by the NC's sitting lawmaker Abdul Rashid Shaheen. -- ANI

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