Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 14: Among the 17 women candidates contesting in Phase III of the Assembly polls in north Kashmir, Safina Baig, the wife of Muzaffar Hussain Baig, is the wealthiest, followed by medical doctor Balkees Akhthar and Firdousa Akhtar, the wife of former Congress leader Usman Majid.
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According to the details submitted in the affidavits, Safina Baigh—contesting from the Wagoora-Kreeri Assembly seat—has an annual income of Rs 11 lakh, with movable assets totalling Rs 1.78 crore and immovable assets worth Rs 7.55 crore. Holding a BA, LLB degree like her husband, Safina also has liabilities of Rs 40 lakh.
Firdousa Akhtar, Usman Majid’s wife, is an Independent candidate from the Bandipora constituency. She owns movable assets worth Rs 71 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 2.95 crore, more than what her husband has.
With no declared liabilities, her income has increased from Rs 3 lakh in 2020-21 to Rs 6 lakh now. She has an educational qualification of Class 12.
Another candidate from Bandipora, Balkees Akhthar, a medical doctor by profession, is contesting as an Independent. She owns movable assets worth Rs 35 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 5.80 crore.
Rehana Begum, running for the Wagoora-Kreeri Assembly seat on a Janata Dal United ticket, owns movable assets worth Rs 7 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 15 lakh. Her declared source of income is business, and her educational qualification is matriculation.
From the Baramulla Assembly segment, three women candidates are contesting alongside their male counterparts. Two of these candidates have minimal educational qualifications, while one holds a Master’s degree in History.
Nighat Parveen, an ex-Councilor running as an Independent, owns Rs 4 lakh worth of movable assets and Rs 85 lakh worth of immovable property. She has Matriculation as her educational qualification.
Santosh Labroo, contesting on a J&K Alliance Democratic Party ticket, holds only Rs 50,000 in cash and no immovable assets. She has a Master’s degree in History.
Rakia Akhter, a Class 11 pass, has no immovable assets but holds Rs 3.30 lakh worth of movable assets.
No women candidates are contesting from Gulmarg, Gurez, Handwara, Lolab, Pattan, Sonawari or Karnah.
In Kupwara, two women candidates are in the fray. Sabiha Begum of the Samajwadi Party has movable assets worth Rs 7.72 lakh and immovable property worth Rs 20 lakh. She is a businesswoman with a master’s degree.
Saleema, running on behalf of the National Congress Party, has Rs 30,000 in cash and no immovable assets. She is a Class 9 pass, with labor declared as her source of income.
In Langate, two women candidates are contesting. Khursheeda Begum, an Independent candidate, is illiterate and has only Rs 40,000 in cash.
Kulsooma Banu holds Rs 2.10 lakh worth of movable assets with no immovable property. She is a Class 12 pass.
From the Rafiabad constituency, the sole woman candidate is Fatima Javaid, running on a Sampoorna Bharat Kranti Party ticket. She holds movable assets worth Rs 1.10 lakh and is a Class 8 pass.
In the Sopore Assembly seat, three women candidates are contesting.
Arti Nehru, an Independent, holds Rs 10 lakh worth of movable assets and Rs 2.10 lakh worth of immovable assets. She has a liability of Rs 70 lakh and has declared business as her source of income. She is a Class 12 pass.
Mursaleen Aajir, an Independent, holds movable assets worth Rs 15 lakh and no immovable property. She has a BA, LLB degree.
Tanveer Fatima, an Independent, holds Rs 2 lakh worth of movable assets and has a B.Com, B.Ed degree.
Lastly, there is one woman candidate each from the Uri and Trehgam Assembly segments.
Bibi Asiya, an Independent from Uri, holds Rs 50,000 worth of movable assets with Rs 2 lakh liabilities.
Shafeeqa Banu, an Independent from Trehgam, holds Rs 70,000 worth of movable assets and is illiterate.
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