Nowshera Assembly Election 2024: BJP’s Ravinder Raina Faces Tough Contest Against PDP and NC Candidates

As the political heat rises in the Nowshera constituency of Jammu and Kashmir, all eyes are on the BJP’s state chief, Ravinder Raina, who faces a stiff challenge in the upcoming Nowshera Assembly Election 2024. Raina, who won the seat in 2014, is vying for re-election against formidable opponents from the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC). The election, which is part of the larger Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly polls, will take place on September 25, with results expected on October 8.

Key Candidates and Parties

The Nowshera constituency, designated as constituency number 84, has traditionally seen close contests, and 2024 is no exception. The main candidates this year are:

• Ravinder Raina (BJP): The sitting MLA and BJP state president, Raina is looking to defend his seat amid a wave of anti-incumbency. A prominent leader known for his strong nationalist stance, he is running on a platform focused on development, security, and the BJP’s broader agenda of integrating Jammu and Kashmir with mainstream India.
• Haq Nawaz (JKPDP): The JKPDP has fielded Haq Nawaz, a seasoned politician from the region, who is banking on the party’s traditional base in Nowshera. The PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, is emphasizing the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and addressing local economic concerns.
• Surinder Kumar Choudhary (JKNC): Supported by Congress under their alliance, Choudhary is seen as a strong contender. Having contested in previous elections, including in 2014, he is looking to consolidate the anti-BJP vote by appealing to the region’s diverse electorate, with a focus on governance and social welfare.

Past Winners: A Swing Constituency

Nowshera has a long history of competitive elections, with the seat swinging between the Congress, JKNC, and BJP over the years.

• In the 2014 Assembly Election, Ravinder Raina won the seat for the BJP with 37,374 votes, securing a 49.51% vote share. His main challenger, Surinder Choudhary of the JKPDP, garnered 27,871 votes (36.92%). Congress candidate Ravinder Kumar Sharma was a distant third with 5,342 votes (7.08%).
• In the 2008 election, JKNC’s Radhay Sham Sharma won the seat with 16,511 votes (26.47%), followed by Congress’s Romesh Chander Sharma and Bahujan Samaj Party’s Surinder Choudhary. The BJP came in fourth at the time.

Historically, the seat has been a battleground between Congress and JKNC, with BJP emerging as a major player only in recent elections. The electorate in Nowshera, like much of Jammu, has often voted along communal lines, with development and security also playing critical roles in determining voter choices.

Issues at Stake

As campaigning heats up, candidates are focusing on several key issues:

1. Development and Infrastructure: Ravinder Raina is pitching his government’s achievements in infrastructure, particularly roads, electricity, and water supply, as major accomplishments of the BJP’s tenure. He is also emphasizing the Narendra Modi-led central government’s focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s development, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
2. Restoration of Special Status: The PDP and JKNC are both campaigning heavily on the promise to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, which was revoked in August 2019. For Haq Nawaz and Surinder Choudhary, this is a key plank of their electoral strategy, aiming to win over voters who feel disillusioned by the BJP’s stance on Kashmir.
3. Security and Stability: With Jammu and Kashmir’s security situation always in the spotlight, law and order remain top concerns for voters. Raina has been vocal about the BJP’s commitment to national security and tough measures against terrorism. His opponents, meanwhile, are focusing on the need for political dialogue and peace in the region.
4. Employment and Youth Welfare: Unemployment remains a major issue, especially among the youth. Both PDP’s Haq Nawaz and JKNC’s Surinder Choudhary are promising more jobs and better employment schemes to woo younger voters, who make up a significant portion of the electorate.

Challenges for Ravinder Raina

Despite his popularity, Ravinder Raina faces multiple challenges in this election. His primary adversary, Haq Nawaz, is targeting rural voters who feel they haven’t benefited enough from BJP’s governance. Meanwhile, Surinder Choudhary is banking on the Congress-NC alliance’s combined vote share to swing the seat in his favor. Additionally, internal divisions within the BJP and potential anti-incumbency sentiments are hurdles Raina will need to overcome.

What’s Next?

The Nowshera Assembly election promises to be a close contest, with each party bringing a unique appeal to the table. The BJP will be looking to retain its dominance in the region, but the strong campaigns by PDP and NC are likely to make it an uphill battle. With polling scheduled for September 25, the result of the election will not only determine the future of Nowshera but will also be an indicator of the broader political mood in Jammu and Kashmir.

Voters in Nowshera have much to consider, from local development issues to the larger political future of the region. As the date approaches, parties are intensifying their efforts to secure last-minute votes in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched constituencies in the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections.