Four Jamaat-backed candidates in Phase 1, three ‘back out’

Srinagar, August 27

The banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI-JK) on Tuesday fielded four Independent candidates from South Kashmir’s Kulgam, Pulwama, Zainapora and Devsar seats. While the JeI was planning to field seven candidates in the first phase, sources told The Tribune that three candidates backtracked at the last moment.

Talat Majeed (46), who was a member of the Jamaat from 2002 to 2014, filed his nomination from the Pulwama Assembly segment. Majeed, who is set to contest his first poll, was the first Jamaat leader to join the mainstream politics and went on to join the Apni Party, led by Altaf Bukhari. A former teacher who resigned from his job last year, Majeed said he would contest as an Independent backed by Jamaat

Majeed claims to have advised the JeI to shun separatism and join mainstream back in 2014, in view of the changing geo-political scenario. “It led to disagreements. I believed that we should stop thinking about separation because it will ruin our future,” he said, adding that he was hopeful that people would vote for the party, because they were looking for an alternative in the Valley.

Meanwhile, Sayar Ahmad Reshi is contesting from the Kulgam seat. Reshi is a key official of the Falah-e-Aam Trust, which is linked to Jamaat. His house in Kulgam was raided by investigative agencies in an alleged Jamaat terror funding case. A private teacher by profession, Reshi said that day-to-day issues like rising unemployment and the lack of healthcare facilities prompted him to be a part of the electoral process.

Nazir Ahmad Bhat, a former Jamaat member, submitted his papers as an Independent candidate from the Devsar Assembly seat. He said he wanted to serve the people and youth who are facing a lot of problems. “I think people will give me a chance…Also, everyone was thinking that rigging takes place during elections, but the Lok Sabha elections proved that elections were held in a transparent manner and it gave me confidence, so I decided to contest the elections.”

Umer Hameed (27) will contest as an Independent candidate from the Zainapora Assembly constituency in Shopian. A sports enthusiast, Hameed said that he wanted to resolve the problems of local residents and represent the youth. “Youth are not represented as promised by the Constitution. I am a known face in the village. The Jamaat came to me while locals also wanted me to contest, so I thought I should contest,” he said, adding that he had no Jamaat affiliation.