Srinagar: In a significant political shift ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Naseer Ahmad Rather, a well-known social and political figure from the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency, has joined the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), led by Engineer Rashid. Rather’s defection from the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance is being viewed as a major blow to the coalition’s prospects in the assembly segment.
Rather, who supported NC leader Omar Abdullah in the recent Lok Sabha elections, has gained widespread popularity among young voters in the Baramulla district. His move to AIP is expected to significantly alter the political landscape in the area.
“Omar Abdullah sought Naseer’s support when it suited him, but the NC has shown its true colours. Now, they’re backing a candidate imposed by Delhi,” said Ghulam Hassan Rather, a resident of Tappar village. “This is a betrayal we won’t forget.”
Local sentiment echoes this frustration towards the NC-Congress alliance. “Naseer sahab is our leader, and we will teach NC-Congress a lesson for how they treated him,” said Shabir Ahmad Wani of Tilgam village. “We need to take power away from the old politicians and give it to the youth and the poor people of this constituency.”
Young voters are rallying behind Rather. Asif Ramzan, a college student from Hygam, expressed optimism about Rather’s leadership. “The youth of our constituency have decided to take matters into our own hands. Naseer sahab is the only genuine leader who truly represents us,” he said. “He’s humble, down to earth, and we connect with him easily.”
Rather’s reputation extends beyond his political work. A local government teacher, who requested anonymity, spoke of Rather’s past efforts to support educators. “Naseer sahab fought for us when he was in the department. We trust him completely, and we know he’ll always be on our side. Teachers suffered badly under the PDP and NC governments.”
Rather, 50, who resigned from his position as a Botany Lecturer in 2023 to pursue a political career, has earned respect through his two decades of social work. His contributions, particularly through the Human Aid Society, an NGO that supports widows and children affected by violence, have deepened his ties to the community. His work includes providing free education to orphans, financial aid to struggling families, and organizing marriages for girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, Rather demonstrated his electoral influence by securing 8,500 votes for NC. His strong connections with students, teachers, and the general public have positioned him as a leading candidate in the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency. His main rivals, the NC-Congress alliance and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Basharat Bukhari, are trailing far behind.
Political analysts are viewing Rather’s defection as a serious blow to the NC-Congress alliance. Farooq Ahmad, a political analyst, criticized Congress’s track record in Kashmir. “Congress systematically destroyed Kashmir politically and constitutionally, but who bothers to remember history anymore?” Ahmad said. “Now, the same ‘Gandhee Naali Kay Keedey’ are paraded as saviours. If Congress stripped us of our Prime Minister and Sadre Riyasat posts, how can we trust them to restore the pre-1953 situation or Article 370?.”
Congress has struggled to gain a foothold in Wagoora-Kreeri for decades.
With Naseer Rather’s departure, the alliance loses a key opportunity to regain influence in the area.
Rather’s decision to join AIP is seen as a bold and strategic move, bringing fresh energy to the political dynamics in North Kashmir. With his reputation as an honourable and respected leader, Rather is poised to be a formidable contender in the upcoming elections, further complicating the political calculations for both the NC-Congress alliance and PDP.
As Naseer Rather steps forward with the Awami Ittehad Party, his influence is likely to resonate across North Kashmir, positioning him as a key figure to watch in the unfolding political scenario. (KDC)
