For first time, two prominent candidates from influential Sufi backgrounds, Mehar Ali and Jamat Ali, will contest for Scheduled Tribe (ST) seat

KANGAN (GANDERBAL): The picturesque town of Kangan is set to witness a thrilling electoral battle between two prominent candidates, both hailing from influential Sufi backgrounds. For the first time, two Alis – Mehar Ali and Jamat Ali – will contest for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) seat, marking a significant shift in the region’s political landscape.
Mehar Ali, a fourth-generation descendant of revered Sufi saints Baba ji Shab Larvi and Syed Jamat Ali, belongs to the prominent Gujjer family of Baba Nagri in Kangan Tehsil. Jamat Ali, a retired bureaucrat turned politician, belongs to the Pahari community and is a resident of Waliwar in Lar Tehsil of Ganderbal district. He is the son-in-law of a prominent Sufi saint from the Naga Baji family of Bandipora.
The Kangan ST seat has traditionally been held by the mainstream political Mian family this election may witness a significant shift in power dynamics. The outcome will have far-reaching consequences, potentially altering the region’s political landscape.
The Kangan Assembly constituency has a total of around 79,000 voters, comprising 40,000 males and 39,000 females. Approximately 45,000 voters belong to the Kashmiri community, 23,800 to the Gujjer community, 4,700 to the Shina community, 4,100 to the Pahadi community, and 1,600 to the Balti community.
Notably, there are around 10,000 first-time voters after the 2014 assembly elections, and approximately 35,000 voters belong to the age group of 18-29 years.
Sheikh Nazir, a renowned political analyst from Kangan, believes that first-time voters will play a pivotal role in altering the traditional political landscape of the Kangan constituency.
“Given that Kangan has been reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, despite having a majority of non-ST voters, the six ST candidates in the fray must articulate a clear vision to safeguard the interests of non-ST voters,” Nazir said.
He emphasized that Mehar Ali from NC, Jamat Ali from PDP, and Alta Mohammad from Apni Party must come up with convincing mechanism and statements to attract non-ST voters.
Nazir noted that young non-ST voters are increasingly disillusioned with the traditional political setup and are eager to assert their political presence. “A sense of restlessness is brewing among young non-ST voters who are apprehensive about their political future and representation,” he added.
Sheikh Nazir also highlighted that the National Conference (NC) has a traditional vote bank in the Kangan Assembly constituency, comprising a considerable number of Kashmiri voters who have consistently supported the Mian family.
“However, the emergence of new candidates and the changing political landscape may alter this dynamic,” Nazir cautioned. “The NC’s traditional vote bank is not a guarantee this time around, and the party will need to work hard to retain its support base.”
In essence, Sheikh Nazir’s statement underscores the significance of first-time voters, the need for ST candidates to address non-ST voters’ concerns, and the potential shift in the traditional political landscape of the Kangan constituency.
A group of non-ST voters told Kashmir Reader that they can only vote for ST candidates but cannot contest as candidates despite having more than double the number of ST voters in the Kangan constituency. They demand guarantees from ST candidates that their rights in employment and other sectors will not be marred and their interests will be safeguarded.
The outcome of this election will be crucial in determining the future of Kangan and its people. Will the voters opt for continuity or bring about a change? The answer will be revealed soon.
However, in the 201 4 legislative assembly election, Mian Altaf Ahmad Larvi NC won the seat, securing 25,812 votes and Bashir Ahmad Mir from PDP stood second with 24,380 votes.

Sheikh Anees