Why Doru Matters: Political Parties Battle for Influence in South Kashmir’s Sensitive Constituency

Opinion by Azhar Rafiqi

 In the political map of South Kashmir, Doru Shahabad has always occupied a distinctive place. The constituency is not merely known for its electoral contests; it has a long political tradition and has produced influential leaders who have shaped the politics of Jammu and Kashmir.

Doru has given Jammu and Kashmir a former Chief Minister, Syed Mir Qasim, The town has also been associated with Syed Hussain, who served as an adviser to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

This political legacy has made Doru-Verinag an important constituency for almost every major political party. Political observers believe that the political mood of Doru can have an impact beyond the town itself, particularly on neighbouring areas of South Kashmir.

A Politically Alert Electorate

Doru-Verinag is often described by political analysts as one of the politically conscious constituencies of Anantnag district. Its voters have traditionally followed politics closely, making the constituency an important testing ground for political parties seeking to build a wider narrative in South Kashmir.

The significance of the constituency became even clearer in the 2024 Assembly elections, when Congress-National Conference alliance candidate and former JKPCC Cheif  G.A. Mir won the seat by a substantial margin.

With the next Assembly elections expected in 2029, political activity has already begun to take shape. Parties are increasingly looking for credible local faces who can connect with voters and build organisational networks at the grassroots level.

Congress Trying Strengthens Its Town-Level Presence

Congress MLA G.A. Mir has recently appointed Peerzada Myser Hussain as the Town President of Doru. Peerzada is  familiar face in the town, and his appointment is being viewed as an effort by Congress to strengthen its local organisation and deepen its connection with the electorate.

PDP Rebuilds Its Team and Image 

The PDP suffered a major political setback in Doru  after its 2014 alliance with the BJP. 

Reportedly The decline was evident when PDP president Mehbooba Mufti secured only around 9000 votes from the area in the parliamentary elections 2024 against Main Altaf Ahmed of National Conference 

In 2024, the PDP decided to replaced Syed Farooq Indrabi with former judge and Noted Lawyer of J&K High Court Mohammad Ashraf Malik , Malik a prominent figure. His late father, Khaja Abdul Gani Malik, was a close associate of former Chief Minister Syed Mir Qasim and remain his Political Advisor 

Malik’s social standing has helped Party attract several prominent figures from Doru, including people who had previously stayed away from active politics, giving the PDP a fresh attempt to rebuild its base in the constituency.
Among them are District President Muslim Personal Law Board, Haji Ibrahim Bodha, Doru Bar Association President Advocate Mir Mohammad Hussain , Master GM Malik , Trade Activist Khalil Mohammed Sofi , Socila Activist Nazir Ahmed Khan and many more .Ashraf Malik has picked his ground worker Mushtaq Ahmad Malik as Town President. Mushtaq is considered to have a respectable standing in the local community.

The strategy appears to be aimed at creating a broad local team capable of taking the party’s message directly to voters.

National Conference Looks Towards the Younger Generation

The National Conference, meanwhile, is also attempting to expand its presence in the town. Although party has already well meaning face Haji Farooq Ahmed khan President Awqaf in Verinag and trade president Gh hussan wani in there fold . TiwIts Doru constituency in-charge, Syed Tawqeer Ahmad, a former district judge, has selected a relatively young face, Mahrouf Bhawani, for the town-level organisation.

Bhawani’s emergence reflects another dimension of the political competition: the attempt by established parties to bring younger and locally acceptable faces into their organisational structures.

But it's important to mention here that all these have failed to straighten there women wing on the ground till date

The Bigger Political Game

The growing competition among these three in Doru is not simply about appointing town presidents or strengthening party offices. At a broader level, it reflects a struggle to shape the political narrative of Doru-Verinag.

The parties appear to understand that a strong political base in Doru town can provide them with an advantage in reaching voters in surrounding areas. A credible local face can become the bridge between a political party and an electorate that is politically active, socially connected and closely attentive to developments.

The real contest, therefore, may not begin in 2029. It has already started at the level of local organisation, political networking and the search for credible faces.

And in this emerging contest, Doru town could once again prove why it has historically mattered so much in the politics of South Kashmir.
( Azhar Rafiqi is Srinagar based noted Journalist working with local and National Papers)