Fed up of false promises and non-redressal of their issues, the people of Bhaderwah constituency are showcasing an inclination towards independent candidates, not political parties, by attending their election rallies in large numbers.
Although the dates for the forthcoming assembly elections have not been announced yet, but the politically sensitive voters of Bhaderwah town have become proactive by showing dissent and anger towards recognized political parties, especially BharatiyaJanata Party, Congress and Peoples Democratic Party.
The voters alleged that the previously elected representatives, from recognized parties, always took them for a ride.
In the given circumstances, locals are showing an inclination towards independent candidates and have become vocal about their choice in forthcoming elections. “We want someone who is easily accessible and who can understand and help in resolving the issues we face,” several locals said.
“Despite running from pillar to post and knocking at the doors of elected political representatives, we have been denied MGNERGA payment since the past 3 years. All the political parties took us for a ride. So, we have decided to vote and support a local independent candidate, who has no party strings attached,” Roshan Din, a resident of Thanalla village, said.
Recently, a local social worker, Imtiyaz-ur-RehmaanJaggu, who decided to contest the election as an independent candidate, addressed a series of political rallies at Thanalla and Boru villages of Bhaderwah. Although contesting for the first time, Jaggu has been attracting large number of people, who seem to see their representative in him.
“Since a long time, there was a political vacuum in Bhaderwah constituency. People tried every political party by supporting them wholeheartedly, but instead of addressing their issues, they took the gullible public for granted. Raising communal issues for petty gains only alienated the masses from them,” Jaggu said, while talking to Greater Kashmir.
He further said, “I have been in the public domain since the past 20 years as a social worker, but in the given circumstances, it became imperative for me to plunge into electoral politics to redress the issues of the local populace. The kind of response I have been getting is overwhelming.”