Srinagar seat, comprising 15 assembly constituencies and spanning over three districts of central Kashmir, fell vacant after former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra quit to protest the civilian killings of summer unrest of 2016.
With the Election Commission announcing by-elections to Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary seats, the buzz here is on the opposition National Conference and the Congress coming together once again to take on the might of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Both parties are holding separate meetings at top level to discuss the election strategy and possible alliances. The by-elections are being held against the backdrop of spike in encounters and stone-pelting across the Valley, and the separatists bracing up for a showdown against the mainstream parties.
Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies are going to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively. Spanning over four districts and comprising 16 assembly constituencies, Anantnag seat in sensitive south Kashmir fell vacant after Mehbooba Mufti was elected as the chief minister.
Srinagar seat, comprising 15 assembly constituencies and spanning over three districts of central Kashmir, fell vacant after former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra quit to protest the civilian killings of summer unrest of 2016.
"We have to gauge the public mood and also take into consideration the opinion of our cadres," said GA Mir, state Congress president.
"Alliance is a matter of strategy, and a decision will be taken by the party leadership taking into consideration various factors," said Junaid Azim Mattu, NC state spokesperson.
NC-Congress alliance had lost all the six parliamentary seats from J&K in 2014. While NC lost all three Valley seats, Congress lost two in Jammu and the lone Ladakh seat. The PDP and BJP, which had contested separately, won three seats each. Former chief ministers Farooq Abdullah and Ghulam Nabi Azad, from Srinagar and Udhampur constituencies respectively, too tasted defeat.
PDP, however, is confident of sailing through despite the spectre of anger and unpopularity looming large this time round. Its pocket-borough of south Kashmir has become militancy hotbed and the epicentre of protests, which is giving sleepless nights to the security forces.
Separatists too are banking on the public anger to enforce the poll boycott in the south Kashmir area which saw the maximum casualties and pellet fury in 2016 unrest.
"Of course, we are geared up for the polls. Candidates will be finalised within a couple of days. We will see the impact of the boycott on that day (poll day)," Sartaj Madni, senior vice-president of PDP told DNA.
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