Pulwama Assembly Election: Can PDP retain its stronghold against three-time MLA Mohammad Khalil Band?

The Pulwama Assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, which comprises the main town and a few villages surrounding it, plays a crucial role in the political dynamics of the Union territory as its electoral outcomes can have far-reaching implications on the region. The voting is underway in the seat. Pulwama, with a history of violence, including the attack on a CRPF convoy in February 2019 that killed nearly 40 jawans, is witnessing a fierce battle in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections 2024 between two major parties — National Conference (NC) and Mehbooba Mufti-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A stronghold of the PDP, the Assembly seat has been represented by Mohammad Khalil Band thrice in 2002, 2008 and 2014. However, it seems that the tables have turned for the party this time as Band switched to the NC after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 and is representing the Farooq Abdullah-led party this time. The PDP has fielded its youth leader Waheed ur Rehman Para, who earlier this year lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Srinagar.



Besides Band and Para, there are 10 more candidates in the fray from the Pulwama seat in South Kashmir, with most of them being Independents. During the 2014 Assembly elections, the PDP emerged as the single-largest party in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, bagging 28 out of 87 seats. It was followed closely by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at 25, while NC and Congress could only manage 15 and 12 seats, respectively.

ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir Polls: A look at key candidates in phase 1 Pulwama Assembly election: Voting date Voting for the 2024 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, September 25 and October 1, covering all the 90 seats in the UT. The counting of votes will be held on October 8. In Pulwama, polling is on September 18.

According to reports, Pulwama this time has a total of 99,555 voters, which includes 49,423 males and 50,130 females, besides two transgender individuals. Voting in Pulwama will be held at 112 polling stations. ALSO READ | Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections 2024: Check full list of Congress candidates Pulwama Assembly election: Candidates list In total, there are 12 candidates in the fray from the Pulwama seat in Jammu and Kashmir, while the major contest remains between Mohammad Khalil Band of NC and PDP's Waheed ur Rehman Para.

Candidate Names Party Mohammad Khalil Band National Conference Waheed ur Rehman Para Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Fayaz Ahmad Sofi Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Ishtiyaq Ahmad Sheikh Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Shabir Ahmad Wani Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party Asif Nabi Dar Independent Javeed Ahmad Chopan Independent Sofi Mohammad Akbar Independent Talat Majid Alie Independent Ali Mohmmad Wani Independent Mohd Iqbal Sofi Independent Mohd Ayoub Mir Independent Pulwama Assembly election: 2014 result In 2014, Mohammad Khalil Band retained the seat for third term on a PDP ticket, defeating Gulam Nabi Wani of National Conference by 1,032 votes. Candidate Names Party Votes Mohammad Khalil Band PDP 11,631 Gulam Nabi Wani National Conference 10,599.