Fresh Faces and Youthful Energy Lead the Race in First Phase Of JK Assembly Elections

Fresh Faces and Youthful Energy Lead the Race in First Phase Of JK Assembly Elections

Ashiq Butt | September 4, 2024 | 06:15 PM IST | Elections 2024, Jammu Kashmir | Follow on Google News

Fresh Faces and Youthful Energy Lead the Race in First Phase Of JK Assembly Elections

Fresh Faces and Youthful Energy Lead the Race in First Phase Of JK Assembly Elections

Key Highlights:

• Young leaders dominate the first phase of the J&K assembly elections.
• Meenakshi Bhagat, 25, is the youngest candidate, contesting from Bhaderwah.
• Political legacies continue with new faces like Shagun Parihar and Iltija Mufti.

The first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections has ushered in a significant wave of youthful energy, with a remarkable number of young candidates stepping into the political arena. Representing both national and regional parties, these fresh faces are set to reshape the political landscape of the region.

Out of the 24 seats contested in this phase, 20 party-nominated candidates and an equal number of independents are first-time contenders.

Among the youngest is 25-year-old Meenakshi Bhagat, who is representing the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the Bhaderwah assembly constituency. Her candidacy symbolizes the new generation’s desire to actively participate in the democratic process.

In Kishtwar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 29-year-old Shagun Parihar, who is closely related to the late Anil Parihar, a prominent leader tragically assassinated by terrorists.

Shagun, with a background in Electrical Engineering, stands as a torchbearer of his family’s political legacy, determined to continue the work of his predecessor.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has placed its faith in 37-year-old Iltija Mufti, the daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Iltija, who holds a master’s degree in International Relations, has been an active and vocal figure on social media, engaging with nearly 10,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter).

Her candidacy from the Bijbehara assembly seat highlights the influence of political dynasties in the region.

Additionally, 39-year-old Waheed Parra, another PDP candidate, is contesting from Pulwama. Known for his articulate speeches and a strong social media presence, Parra is ready to take on the challenge after a previous run for the Srinagar parliamentary seat.

This young leadership is poised to bring new perspectives and vitality to Jammu and Kashmir’s political future.

Ashiq Butt

Ashiq Butt – is VoM News's senior staffer worked since year 2015 and he deals with correspondency and social media handles. Hailing from Doda's Marmat, Ashiq has strong grip over the collection of the data and it's compiling feature.