Arun Jasrotia
Jammu :TDD,In a significant development that marks a step towards greater gender representation in Jammu and Kashmir’s political sphere, three women candidates emerged victorious in the recent Assembly polls. The election results, announced on Tuesday, saw Sakeena Masood of the National Conference, Shagun Parihar of the BJP, and Shamim Firdous of the National Conference secure their seats in the male-dominated Assembly.
Sakeena Masood, a former minister, clinched a resounding victory in the D H Pora Assembly seat in Kulgam district. Masood garnered 36,623 votes, defeating her nearest rival, Gulzar Ahmed Dar, by an impressive margin of 17,449 votes. This win adds to Masood’s political legacy, as she had previously secured the Noorabad seat (now renamed D H Pura) twice in 1996 and 2008. The constituency has a strong connection with her family, with her father, Wali Mohammad Itoo, having won the seat four times in the past. In a surprising turn of events, BJP’s lone female candidate, 29-year-old Shagun Parihar, emerged victorious in the Kishtwar Assembly seat. Parihar’s win was particularly notable as she defeated veteran National Conference leader and former minister Sajad Ahmed Kichloo by a narrow margin of 521 votes. Parihar secured 29,053 votes, while Kichloo, who had previously won the seat in 2002 and 2008, received 28,532 votes. This upset victory not only marks a generational shift but also highlights the BJP’s growing influence in the region.
The third woman to secure a seat was Shamim Firdous of the National Conference, who won the Habbakadal seat in Srinagar district. Firdous defeated BJP candidate Ashok Kumar Bhat by a margin of 9,538 votes, polling 12,437 votes. This victory further cements the National Conference’s stronghold in the constituency, which they have now won six times since 1977. Firdous herself is no stranger to success in this seat, having previously won it in both 2008 and 2014.
While these victories are cause for celebration, the election also saw some high-profile losses among women candidates. Notably, Iltija Mufti, daughter of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, lost the election from Surgufwara-Bijbehara. Similarly, former PDP minister Asiea Naqash failed to secure the Hazratbal seat.
The election saw a total of 41 women candidates in the fray, a significant increase from the 24 who contested in 2014. This rise in women’s participation in the electoral process is a positive sign for the region’s political landscape. However, it’s worth noting that in 2008, there were 67 women candidates, with three securing seats in the assembly, including Mehbooba Mufti.
As the dust settles on this election, the victories of Masood, Parihar, and Firdous not only represent personal triumphs but also signal a gradual shift towards more inclusive political representation in Jammu and Kashmir. Their success may inspire more women to enter the political arena in future elections, potentially leading to a more diverse and representative assembly in the years to come.TDD
