Sagar, Altaf, Gul, Veeri, Tarigami elected to Assembly for 4th consecutive term

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 23: While five sitting MLAs from Kashmir Valley managed to make it to the State Assembly for fourth consecutive term this time, the three MLAs from Jammu including Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand of Congress, former Higher Education Minister, Abdul Gani Malik of NC and NPP leader Harshdev Singh failed to get elected to the State Legislative Assembly for the fourth consecutive term.
Minister of Rural Development, Ali Mohammed Sagar, Speaker Legislative Assembly, Mubarak Gul and Forest Minister, Mian Altaf all of NC, CPI State Secretary, Mohammed Yousf Tarigami and PDP leader, Abdul Rehman Veeri managed to get elected to State Assembly for the fourth consecutive term this time. However the three legislators from Jammu failed to do so.
All the three Jammu MLAs including Tara Chand, Abdul Gani Malik and Harshdev Singh who were elected to State Assembly for first time as MLAs in 1996 from Khour, Gool Gulabgarh and Ramnagar Assembly segments respectively and were re-elected in 2002 and 2008 Assembly poll failed to do so this time.
Malik was elected in 1996 on Janata Dal ticket which had five members in Assembly at that time. Later he joined the National Conference and managed his victory in two successive Assembly elections in 2002 and 2008. But this time he was defeated by Mumtaz Ahmed of Congress.
Tara Chand who made it first time in 1996 on Congress ticket when the party had five MLAs in the State Assembly managed his election in 2002 and 2008 Assembly poll also. He was elected as Speaker of State Assembly in 2002 and after his re-election in 2008 he became a unanimous choice for the post of Deputy Chief Minister in Omar Abdullah’s Government when Congress joined hands with NC after breaking alliance with People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Harshdev who was the lone MLA of NPP in 1996 was re-elected in 2002 along with other three MLAs of his Party. The NPP became coalition partner of PDP-Congress alliance and Mr Singh was appointed Minister of Education during Mufti Mohamed Sayeed Government. But in 2005 when post of Chief Minister was rotated between Congress and NC and Ghulam Nabi Azad took over as CM, NPP Ministers were shown the door by Mr Azad.
However Harshdev Singh again won his seat from Ramnagar in 2008 elections but failed to manage this time after he was defeated by BJP’s Ranbir Singh Pathania.
NC strongman Ali Mohammed Sagar and Mubarak Gul who had made it to State Assembly for the first time in 1983 Assembly elections and had again won from Khanyar and Eidgah Constituencies respectively in 1987 elections have been elected to State Assembly for a record sixth term this time.
The duo was not members of Assembly from 1990 to 1996 when State was put under Governor’s rule. However when again Assembly elections were held in the State in 1996 and Farooq Abdullah took over as Chief Minister after his party got a massive mandate in all the three regions of the State, both Sagar and Gul were re-elected to State Assembly and since then they continuously won all the Assembly poll from their respective Assembly segments.
Mian Altaf was elected to State Assembly in 1987 on Congress ticket from Kangan Assembly segment in Ganderbal district of Kashmir Valley for the first time and later he joined the NC and managed to win the election from this Assembly segment continuously since 1996. This time he again won from this Assembly segment by defeating his nearest rival Bashir Ahmed Mir of PDP.
CPI leader, Mohammad Yousf Tarigami who was elected to State Assembly for the first time in 1996 from Kulgam Assembly Segment in Kashmir Valley managed to retain his seat for fourth consecutive term this time. Tarigami had won the elections in 2002 and 2008 also. This time he defeated PDP’s Nazir Ahmed Laway.
PDP’s Abdul Rehman Veeri was also elected to State Assembly for the fourth consecutive term this time from his Bijbehara Assembly Constituency in South Kashmir district by defeating his nearest rival of NC Bashir Ahmed Shah. Veeri was elected to State Assembly for the first time during the bye elections in 1999 after the sitting MLA from Bijbehara Assembly segment Mehbooba Mufti was elected to Lok Sabha from Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency.
Later Mr Veeri managed to win the elections in 2002, and 2008 also.
Another Finance Minister and strong NC man, Abdul Rahim Rather who was elected to State Assembly for the first time in 1977 from Chrar-e-Sharief Assembly segment in Budgam district of Kashmir Valley and managed to win every election since then failed to win this time. He was defeated by Ghulam Nabi Lone of PDP.
Another NC stalwart and Law Minister, Mir Saifullah who was elected to State Assembly for three consecutive terms in 1996, 2002 and 2008 was trounced by Peoples Conference candidate Bashir Ahmed Dar time.
His Party colleague, Kafil-ur-Rehman Khan who remained the member of State Assembly continuously for three consecutive terms in 1996, 2002 and 2008 was defeated this time by Raja Manzoor Ahmed of PDP.
However NC’s Nazir Gurezi managed to retain his Gurez seat for the third consecutive term this time by defeating Faqir Mohammad Khan of Congress. Gurezi was elected to State Assembly for first time in 2002 Assembly elections.
Higher Education Minister and senior NC leader, Mohammad Akbar Lone also managed to retain his Sumbal Sonawari seat in Bandipora district of North Kashmir for the third consecutive term this time by defeating Yasir Reshi of PDP.
Minister of Culture, Horticulture and Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla who was seeking his re-election from Gandhi Nagar Assembly segment Jammu for third consecutive term was defeated by BJP’s Kavinder Gupta. Mr Bhalla was elected to Assembly from Gandhi Nagar in 2002 Assembly elections. Earlier he had lost the elections from Jammu East in 1996 through the hands of BJP veteran Vaid Vishnu Dutt.
Minister of PHE, Irrigation & FC, Sham Lal Sharma who was also seeking re-election from Akhnoor Assembly segment for the third consecutive term this time was defeated by BJP’s Rajeev Sharma. Mr Sharma was first elected to Assembly in 2004 after the Akhnoor seat was vacated by his brother Madan Lal Sharma who was elected as MP. Later Sham Lal was re-elected as MLA from this seat in 2008.
Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir who was seeking his re-election from Gulmarg Assembly Segment for the third consecutive term this time was defeated by Mohammed Abass Wani of PDP. Mir was first time elected as MLA from Gulmarg on NC ticket in 1983. But later he was defected to Awami National Conference (ANC) and became Minister in GM Shah’s Government in 1984.
Health and Medical Education Minister, Mohammed Shafi Uri who was also seeking his re-election from Uri Assembly Segment in Baramulla district of Kashmir Valley for third consecutive term this time was defeated by NC stalwart and former Minister Mohammed Shafi Uri.
PDP MLA Javed Mustafa Mir also managed his re-election from Chadoora Assembly segment in Budgam district of Kashmir Valley for third consecutive term this time. Mir was first time elected to Assembly in 2002.
Former Revenue Minister and PDF leader, Hakim Mohamed Yasin also retained his Khansahib seat for the third consecutive term by defeating Saif-ud-Din Bhat of PDP. Hakim was earlier elected to Assembly on NC ticket in 1983.
PDP leader and former Minister Mohammed Khalil Band also managed to retain his Pulwama Assembly seat in South Kashmir for the third consecutive term this time by defeating the NC candidate Ghulam Nabi Wani. Band was elected to Assembly on PDP ticket in 2002 first time.
Minister of Haj and Auqaf, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed who was also seeking his re-election for the third consecutive term from Kokernag Assembly segment in Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley on Congress ticket was defeated by PDP’s Abdul Rahim Rather while his another party colleague and Tourism Minister, G A Mir also failed to make it to State Assembly for third consecutive term from his Dooru Constituency. He was defeated by PDP’s Syed Farooq Ahmed Andrabi.
Peerzada was first time elected to State Assembly in 1987 while Mir was elected as MLA in 2002 Assembly elections for the first time.
PDP leader and Deputy Speaker, State Assembly Sartaj Madni also failed to make it to State Assembly in his Devsar Constituency in Kulgam district of South Kashmir for the third consecutive term this time. Madni, who was for the first time elected to State Assembly in 2002 and later managed to retain the seat in 2008 was defeated by Congress candidate Mohammad Amin Bhat of Congress this time.
Former Minister and Congress leader G M Saroori also managed to retain his seat for the third consecutive term this time by defeating BJP’s Tariq Ken. Saroori was elected as MLA for first time on Congress ticket in 2002 and later again in 2008.
However his Party colleague and R&B Minister, Abdul Majid Wani failed to retain the Doda Assembly seat for the third term this time after he was defeated by BJP’s Shakti Parihar. Wani was elected from Doda as independent candidate in 2002 and later he joined the Congress. He retained the Assembly seat in 2008 elections also.
Another Minister and NC leader Sajjad Ahmed Kitchloo also failed to retain his Kishtwar seat this time after winning it continuously in 2002 and 2008. He was defeated by BJP’s Sunil Sharma. Kitchloo was first time elected to Assembly in 2002.
Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation and Senior Congress leader, Aijaz Ahmed Khan managed to retain his Gool Arnas seat in Reasi district this time by defeating the BJP candidate. Khan was first time elected from this Assembly segment in 2002 as independent and later he joined Congress.
Minister of Cooperatives and another Congress leader Dr Manohar Lal who was trying his re-entry in the State Assembly from his Bani seat in Kathua district of Jammu region for third consecutive term this time was defeated by BJP’s Dr Nirmal Singh. Dr Lal was first time elected to Assembly as independent candidate in 2002 and later had joined the Congress.
Senior Congress leader and Minister of Urban Development Nawang Rigzin Jora also retained his Leh seat in Ladakh region for third consecutive term this time by defeating Chhering Dorjay of BJP. Jora was for the first time elected to Assembly in 2002. BJP leader and MLA Bishnah Ashwani Sharma however failed to manage it to State Assembly for third consecutive term this time after he was defeated by NC’s Kamal Arora. Sharma was elected to Assembly as independent candidate in 2002 and then re-elected in 2008 elections also. However he had joined BJP before the announcement of Assembly poll this time and contested the elections on its mandate.

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