As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for pivotal assembly elections, Kulgam is poised for a crucial vote, with Communist Party leader Yousuf Tarigami seeking a fifth consecutive term amidst shifting political dynamics and a competitive field of candidates. Syed Batool Andrabi offers a comprehensive profile of the constituency
If everything goes as per the INDIA bloc script, Yousuf Tarigami, a prominent leader of the Communist Party of India (M), could win a fifth consecutive term in the Kulgam assembly elections. Though there are 10 candidates in the fray, the real contest is triangular. Residents believe the contest is between Tarigami, JKPDP’s Mohammad Amin Dar and the erstwhile JKPDP’s Nazir Ahmad Laway, who was expelled from the party well before his tenure in Rajya Sabha concluded.
A Tarigami victory would mean red dominance over the region that is widely believed to be green inside.
Kulgam is a district having three constituencies: Kulgam, Devsar, and DH Pora. Barring a fierce contest, it is too early to offer any idea about the outcome of the first post-2019 election in the area. This will also be the first election after the delimitation that gave this constituency the areas falling in Kulgam and Yaripora Tehsils.
Geography
Falling within the South Kashmir Lok Sabha constituency, the Kulgam constituency is strategically located in the region. Living mostly on either side of the fast-flowing Veshaw – which originates from Ahrabal and is a key tributary of Jhelum, Kulgam’s main tourist spot is Ahrabal waterfall, which is technically much closer to Shopian.
Agriculture drives Kulgam’s economy. Till recently, it was the Rice Bowl of Kashmir. Off late, it has converted most of its rice fields into apple orchards following the Shopian experiment. The government has started a Mandi for apple trade and it is doing better. The constituency is home to various villages which are known for their specific skill set – Okay (pronounced Woukai) is a major cottage sector Kangri cluster where thousands of fire pots are woven every year; Gundipora is known for the best vocalists in the region.
Demographics
According to the 2011 census, the Kulgam constituency’s population is 146958, which is by and large, homogenous with less than 300 people from Scheduled Tribes (ST). While 109851 people live in the main Kulgam tehsil, the remaining 37107 people are in Yaripora tehsil.
Political Landscape
Kulgam is a key constituency within the Anantnag parliamentary constituency. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, it was JKNC versus PDP with Mian Altaf taking 19864 votes and Mehbooba Mufti pocketing 11992 votes.
Unlike Lok Sabha, the upcoming assembly elections are critical as it is for local governance. There are 10 candidates in the fray including Congress-NC alliance candidate Yousuf Tarigami (from CPIM), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Mohammad Amin Dar, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP)’s Mohammad Aaqib Dar and Peoples Conference Nazir Ahmad Laway.
Though other parties have also fielded their candidates including the BJP, but the main contestants are three: Targami, Dar and Laway.
Electoral History
The constituency boasts a rich electoral history. Mohammad Yaqub Bhat of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference won the inaugural election in 1962. He later secured the seat as an Indian National Congress candidate in 1967.
Abdul Razaq Mir from Jamaat-e-Islami wrested the seat in 1972, followed by Ghulam Nabi Dar of the National Conference in 1977 and 1983. Mir retook the seat in 1987 as a candidate of the erstwhile Muslim United Front.
What is tragic, however, both Ghulam Nabi Dar (JKNC) and Abdul Razak Mir (Jamat) were assassinated. Dar died in a grenade explosion when he was on his way to join a gathering to celebrate the district status to Kulgam, Mir was dragged out of his home by pro-government militia and killed.
In the first election during militancy, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) won it in 1996 and has been continuously winning it in the elections of 2002, 2008, and 2014, reflecting the changing political dynamics in Kulgam. In 2014, however, Tarigami won with a whisper – he polled 20,574 votes and his rival Nazir Ahmad Laway from the JKPDP took 20,240 votes. The margin of victory was just 334 votes, highlighting the constituency’s competitive nature.
It was almost the same cliffhanger contest that the constituency witnessed in 2008. Then, Tarigami secured 17,175 votes and Laway 16,939 votes. It was a winning margin of 236 votes only.
Acknowledging Laway’s near wins’ twice, the PDP nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. However, well before he would complete his tenure, the party sacked him for “anti-party” activities. Laway joined the Sajjad Lone-led Jammu and Kashmir Peoples’ Conference and is contesting the 2024 election on its mandate.
Residents said that in the three-cornered contest, Laway and Dar may be vying for the vote share that jointly belongs to Laway and PDP. This situation will help Tarigmai to sail through and join the rare league of lawmakers who would retain the seat for consecutive five terms.
Upcoming Elections
The constituency is set to vote on September 1, 2024. There are 117,322 registered voters, including 58,477 males and 58,845 females. The district administration is fully prepared to manage the voting process with precision and accessibility, with 134 polling stations established to facilitate a smooth voting process.
Dedicated 24×7 control rooms are operational and equipped with voter helplines. These control rooms will monitor Flying Squad Teams and Static Surveillance Teams, managing violations of the Model Code of Conduct reported through the C-Vigil platform. A dedicated permissions cell has been established to issue permissions related to campaigning and rallies.
Voter Engagement
Voter engagement is vital in Kulgam, where active participation in past elections has been evident. The 2014 Kulgam Assembly election saw significant voter turnout, reflecting the electorate’s interest in the democratic process. The administration aims to ensure all eligible voters can participate in the upcoming elections.
Efforts are being made to educate voters about the electoral process through awareness campaigns, encouraging participation and fostering civic duty among residents. The outcome of the elections will depend on voter turnout and engagement.