CM, 8 others in fray for Anantnag by-poll

All nine candidates, including Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, remain in the fray for the by-poll to Anantnag assembly constituency of Kashmir after their papers were found in order during the scrutiny today.
"The papers of all the nine candidates were found to be correct during their scrutiny today," Returning Officer Mohammad Aslam told PTI.
The last date of withdrawal of nomination papers is June 4 and voting will take place on June 19.
Mehbooba is seeking to become a member of the state Assembly within the mandatory period of six months of her swearing-in as Chief Minister in April.
The by-polls were necessitated due to the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who is father of Mehbooba, on January 7 this year.

Apart from the Chief Minister, Independent MLA from Kashmir's Langate constituency Sheikh Abdul Rashid has also filed his nomination papers for the elections.

Mir lost the last assembly elections from Dooru
constituency in Anantnag from where he had won in 2008 even after being accused in a sex scandal from which he was acquitted by the court.
Mir worked his way up the Congress state unit ladder and is currently its state chief.
After the seat-sharing arrangement with the NC, Mir was announced as the joint candidate of the opposition to take on the ruling party's nominee Mufti.
Mir also has a lot at stake in the by-poll as he enjoys good support in south Kashmir where he worked very hard after he became the Pradesh Congress Committee president.

His win would cement his place in the party and further his political ambitions.
An ace cinematographer known for his works in Bollywood movies like 'Omkara' and 'Kaminey', Mufti is fighting his maiden political battle from his party's as well as his family's stronghold south Kashmir.
While his sister Mehbooba had won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from the constituency by over 65,000 votes, it may not be a cakewalk for the Mufti scion.
The party has suffered a serious image dent in south Kashmir particularly after the last year's unrest which saw massive protests in south Kashmir after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces in Kokernag area of Anantnag district.

While Mufti's win would consolidate his position within the party his father and sister built, his loss would be a huge setback not only for the party but for Mehbooba as well.
So, while the electioneering has been low key, the high profile electoral battle has evinced a lot of interest especially as the stakes are so high.