It's three-way fight among India bloc allies NC, Congress & PDP

Banihal: Banihal constituency of Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up for a triangular contest between Congress, National Conference and People's Democratic Party.

This is one of the five seats where the NC and Congress-which entered into a pre-poll seat sharing arrangement on 83 of the 90 seats across J&K-decided to have a friendly contest. Both the parties failed to convince each other that their respective candidates had a better chance to emerge as a winner from here. The PDP, which still claims to be the part of INDIA bloc but is not part of any pre-poll alliance in J&K, saw an opportunity in the NC and Congress rivalry in this constituency and believe that they might end up as winners here.

Thus in Banihal, a town spread in the lap of Pirpanchal mountain and on the banks of Nalla Bischlari and connects Kashmir with the rest of the country, the contest is no longer friendly.


Viqar Rasool Wani of Congress, a two-time MLA and a former minister, has repeatedly targeted NC in his campaigns while Sajad Shaheen of NC is banking on the anti-incumbency against Wani. Imtiyaz Ahmad Shan of PDP is betting on votes from Gool and Sangaldan areas, which have been added to this constituency in the last delimitation exercise here.

"Omar Abdullah doesn't want a new leadership to emerge in J&K. Neither in his own party nor in any other party. NC will be a distant third in this election," Wani told ET.

Wani was removed as J&K Congress immediately after assembly elections were announced in the union territory and the party later couldn't secure a seat for him in the seat-sharing arrangement as well. "I am a soldier of my party, but my priority is the people of my constituency. I want to finish the development works I had started in this constituency," Wani said.

In a hung assembly scenario he said NC-Congress alliance shall be open to engage with INDIA bloc partner PDP, if they fall short of some seats. "We have to keep BJP away," he said.

On the other side of the nallah dividing the town, Shaheen's residence is bustling with activity round the clock. Interestingly, some of the important workers of Wani, who made him win in 2014, have now joined Shaheen and claim to be aware of all his lacunas.

"We have to remove this network of middle men and contractors who have looted the poor of this constituency over the past several years. They barter the future of our youngsters against their personal interests," Shaheen said in a campaign rally in Banihal, in an oblique reference to Wani.

Banihals residents seem to be in favour of change as well, but the votes can swing any way. "It's money against sympathy and I can tell you sympathy is for the change," said Anayatullah, a daily wager in his sixties.

Banihal has 1.26 lakh voters who will vote in the first phase of the elections on September 18.

"If I win it will be the win of educated youngsters who are suffering despite good education. I am not here to earn money through corruption," said Shan, who organised a massive rally in the Khari area on Saturday. "I am with students, as they are agents of change as we saw in Bangladesh recently," he said during his interaction with the residents of Banihal town.