Rameez Makhdoomi
Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is one of the six Lok Sabha (parliamentary) constituencies of Jammu & Kashmir state .
Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments:
1. Tral (assembly constituency no. 31)
2. Pampore (assembly constituency no. 32)
3. Pulwama (assembly constituency no. 33)
4. Rajpora (assembly constituency no. 34)
5. Wachi (assembly constituency no. 35)
6. Shopian (assembly constituency no. 36)
7. Noorabad (assembly constituency no. 37)
8. Kulgam (assembly constituency no. 38)
9. Homshalibug (assembly constituency no. 39)
10. Anantnag (assembly constituency no. 40)
11. Devsar (assembly constituency no. 41)
12. Doru (assembly constituency no. 42)
13. Kokarnag (assembly constituency no. 43)
14. Shangas (assembly constituency no. 44)
15. Bijbehara (assembly constituency no. 45)
16. Pahalgam (assembly constituency no. 46)
History of Anantnag Parliamentary Seat
1977: Mohammed Shafi Qureshi, Indian National Congress
1980: Gh. Rasool Kochak, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1984: Begum Akbar Jahan, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1989: P.L. Handoo, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
1996: Mohammad Maqbool, Janata Dal
1998: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Indian National Congress
1999: Ali Mohammad Naik, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
2004: Mehbooba Mufti, Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party
2009: Mirza Mehboob Beg, Jammu & Kashmir National Conference
Main Contestants
Mehbooba Mufti has all that it takes to be termed as charismatic politician.
Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed was born 22 May 1959 in Akhran Nowpora, Anantnag district of Kashmir Valley. She is the president of the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party. She is the daughter of former Home minister of India and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. She was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha, representing the Anantnag constituency.
When elections for the state assembly were held in 1996, Mehbooba became one of the most popular members – elected from Bijbehara on an Indian National Congress ticket. Her father had at that time returned to the Congress, which he had left in 1987, angry at the alliance that party had formed with its traditional rival in the state, the National Conference. Mehbooba quickly made a mark as the leader of the opposition in the assembly, taking on the government of then chief minister Farooq Abdullah with sharpness.
Mehbooba is among the few selected female politicians of Kashmir who are known world over.
Advantages
Mehbooba Mufti strong personality could prove the single biggest factor in her favor in the fight for Anantnag Parliamentary seat.
PDP holding a majority of Assembly Segments from Anantnag Parliamentary seat.
Anti-incumbency against NC-CONG coalition on account of mass allegations of human rights abuses.
Disadvantages
PDP‘s unimpressive performance as opposition in highlighting some burning issues .
Mehboob Baig
Mehboob Baig is among the senior leaders of National Conference. Born 4 September 1949 Sarnal, Anantnag district, Mehboob was member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for two terms during 1983-1987 and 2002–2008. During March 2009 to May 2009 he was member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council also.
He is a medical practitioner and studied MBBS Srinagar Medical College and resides in Srinagar. Has also served in the Cabinet as one of the ace ministers of the State, and is widely hailed as a person who gave huge employment in South Kashmir in particular. A member of many prestigious Parliamentary Committees and winner of various awards including the best legislator award. Many senior political experts opine only he could have pulled-off a victory in the Parliamentary polls as 12 out of the 16 assembly seats in the Anantnag Parliamentary seat were held by the opposition PDP. Despite this Beg pulled-off a famous win. He is the son of the stalwart Mirza Mohammad Afzal Beg, the former dy.CM of J&K and the first Kashmiri Muslim cabinet Minister.
Advantages
Strong family legacy in politics
Articulate Speaker
Disadvantages
NC holding not many assembly Segments
Anger against NC in number of areas on account of allegations of human rights abuses.
Tanveer Hussain Khan
Tanveer Hussain , the Awami Ittihaad Party (AIP) candidate from Anantnag Parliamentary constituency could spring in a surprise by bagging the impressive number of votes and spoil the party of heavyweights. He has enjoyed a sound career in the philanthropic and human rights activism as a leading social activist of the state.
Advantages
AIP led by dynamic and popular personality of Engineer Rashid could help him greatly.
Young and energetic personality of Tanveer Hussain and his rich activism career
Disadvantages
Weak grassroots presence of AIP in South Kashmir
AIP not having currently any MLA from Anantnag Parliamentary Seat