Bandipora, Sep 30 (KNO): North Kashmir’s border Gurez constituency is set to witness a fierce neck-and-neck battle between two prominent Khans of the region.
Former Deputy Speaker and three-time MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan from the National Conference is facing off against BJP leader Faqir Mohammad Khan in the elections scheduled for October 1. Both candidates have a history of dominating the constituency in past elections.
Faqir Mohammad Khan was elected to the erstwhile state Assembly from Gurez in 1996, while Nazir Ahmad Khan secured his first win in 2002. In the 2008 Assembly Elections, Nazir Ahmad Khan won again, receiving 5,817 votes with a vote share of 51.06%.
In the 2014 Assembly Elections, Nazir Ahmad Khan won the seat by a narrow margin of 141 votes, receiving 6,664 votes (48.29%) compared to Faqir Mohammad Khan, who garnered 6,523 votes (47.26%).
The Gurez Assembly constituency has 22,291 registered voters, comprising 11,723 males and 10,568 females. To facilitate a smooth electoral process, 31 rural polling stations have been established throughout the constituency.
Meanwhile, the two Khans left no stone unturned in their campaigns in the border town of Gurez, urging residents to vote for them to make Gurez a premier tourist destination. They also highlighted the long-pending demand for the Gurez-Bandipora tunnel.
Faqir Mohammad Khan has a stronghold in Tulail Valley, while Nazir Ahmad Khan, a resident of Wanpora, maintains his base in Dawar, the central township of Gurez.
According to many political analysts, while several other candidates from DPAP, AIP, People's Conference, and independent backgrounds are in the fray, the contest is primarily between the two Khans—(KNO)