Termed ‘BJP Proxy’ by Rivals, Can Baramulla MP Abdul Rashid ‘Engineer’ A Shock Result in J&K Polls?

Sheikh Abdul Rashid, popularly known as Engineer Rashid, has added an intriguing twist to the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections after being released on interim bail from Tihar Jail. Many in the Valley question the timing of his release as he had been in jail since August 2019 in connection with a terror-funding case. Rashid, the chief of the Awami Ittehad Party, emerged as a dark horse in the Lok Sabha elections in J&K, defeating former chief minister Omar Abdullah. His release has stirred the political landscape in Kashmir, with regional parties accusing him of being a BJP proxy. Rashid has launched attacks on various parties and has vowed to oppose PM Modi’s Naya Kashmir narrative. His party has fielded candidates for the upcoming elections, and his impact remains to be seen.