J&K poll results: PDP youth leader Waheed Para wins from Pulwama seat by 24,716 votes

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Para has won from the Pulwama constituency.

Updated on: Oct 8, 2024, 13:46:40 IST

By HT News Desk | Written by Sohil Sehran

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed Ur Rehman Para has comfortably won the South Kashmir’s Pulwama constituency in the assembly election. As per the ECI results, Para secured a total number of 24,716 votes.

Waheed-Ur-Rehman Para, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate from Pulwama. (AP)

Para was pitted against National Conference (NC) leader and former minister Mohammad Khalil Band, who was once a prominent figure in the PDP.

Follow the live blog on Jammu and Kashmir polls for latest updates

The constituency has been a stronghold of the PDP since 2022, but this time, the National Conference made significant efforts to wrest control from them.

Para, known as a promising youth leader of the PDP, made his entry into electoral politics in 2020 while in custody of the National Investigation Agency for alleged links to militants.

Despite his incarceration, he won the District Development Council (DDC) elections from Pulwama, defeating BJP candidate Sajad Ahmad Raina.

Also read: Aijaz Ahmad Guroo: Fate of Afzal Guru's brother to be decided today as counting begins for Sopore

After being imprisoned for 18 months, Para was released on bail in May 2022. He was later fielded by the PDP in the Lok Sabha elections from the Srinagar Parliamentary constituency but was defeated by National Conference leader Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi.

Also read: 'They haven't extended support': Omar Abdullah's clarification on Mehbooba Mufti speculation | Jammu and Kashmir polls

The Pulwama constituency has a history of violence, including the February 2019 attack on a CRPF bus in Lethpora, which left 40 jawans dead and changed the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir. The district has also witnessed several encounters.

Waheed Para's political journey

During his campaign, Para sought votes based on the work his party has done over the last 20 years, particularly in the construction of road networks, AIIMS, and other developmental projects.

Waheed entered politics in 2013 and was soon appointed as the youth wing President of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party.

He later served as the secretary of the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council from July 2016 to 2018. In 2018, he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt when terrorists targeted his vehicle in Central Kashmir's Budgam district.

Waheed was an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) fellow and one of the few Indian politicians invited by the US government.

He was also invited to the Australia-India Youth Dialogue (AIYD) in 2019 but couldn't attend due to his detention after August 5, 2019.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.