This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (September 2024) |
Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | AIP |
Leader | Engineer Rashid |
Chairman | Mohammad Yousuf Bhat |
Founder | Engineer Rashid |
Founded | 2013 |
Headquarters | Srinagar |
Ideology | Kashmiriyat[citation needed] |
ECI Status | not granted |
Alliance | People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration |
Seats in Lok Sabha | 1 / 543
|
Seats in Rajya Sabha | 0 / 245
|
Seats in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly | 0 / 90
|
Seats in District Development Council | 3 / 280
|
Website | |
awamiithadpartyjk | |
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) is a regional political party in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. Founded by Engineer Rashid in 2013, it announced candidates for the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election.[1][2][3]
The Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) was founded in 2013 by Sheikh Abdul Rashid, commonly referred to as Engineer Rashid, who had previously been an independent member of the Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir representing the Langate constituency.[4] Rashid had gained prominence for his views on the Kashmir conflict and his advocacy for peaceful resolutions to the region's political disputes. AIP was established as an alternative to both the mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir, such as the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), as well as separatist factions.[5]
In the 2024 Indian general elections, AIP's leader, Engineer Rashid, contested the Baramulla parliamentary seat from prison. Rashid had been in detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and was later arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2019 on charges related to terror funding.[6] Despite his ongoing legal troubles and his inability to actively campaign, Rashid achieved victory, securing the seat with high margin.[7]
His win from Baramulla was seen as a major political upset and was largely attributed to his persistent advocacy for the rights of Kashmiris and his stance on sensitive regional issues, including the demand for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir. The victory also highlighted the discontent among voters with mainstream political parties.[8]
Engineer Rashid's victory in the Baramulla constituency has been viewed as part of a broader shift in Kashmiri politics, where non-mainstream political parties, such as AIP, have managed to gain ground amid growing disillusionment with the traditional political establishment.[9]
In October 2020, AIP became part of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD),[10] a coalition aimed at restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been revoked following the abrogation of Article 370. This alliance opposes the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and seeks to restore its autonomy.[11]
For the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) announced its list of candidates.[12]
In August 2024, the party revealed its first list of nine candidates contesting various constituencies, with an emphasis on candidates who have been actively involved in socio-political issues in their respective areas.[13]
In a political development, the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) led by Engineer Rashid has formed an alliance with former members of the Jamaat-e-Islami for the 2024 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election.[14]
As part of the agreement, AIP agreed to support JEI-backed candidates in the Kulgam and Pulwama constituencies, while JEI reciprocated by backing AIP candidates across Kashmir. In certain constituencies where both parties had fielded candidates, such as Langate, Devsar, and Zainapora, a "friendly contest" was agreed upon to avoid friction.[15]
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