By Majid Jahangir Sopore, Sep 27 (Reporter) Once a bastion of separatism and militancy, Sopore, also known as the "apple town," is now brimming with election activity. The palpable fear that once hung over the region has dissipated, and candidates are making last-ditch efforts to woo voters. Sopore is one of the 16 assembly constituencies in north Kashmir set to go to polls in the third and final phase on October 1. This affluent town of apple orchards was once the militant hub and home to top militants of Hizbul Mujahideen and Tehreek-e-Jihad-e-Islami. This constituency has a unique political history, having elected the late Syed Ali Geelani, the Hurriyat hardliner, three times to the Assembly—in 1972, 1977, and 1987. When militancy erupted in Kashmir in 1989, Geelani quit mainstream politics. This time, Sopore is witnessing a surge in political activity, with around 20 candidates in the fray. Among them is Mohammad Lateef Wani, whose antecedents belong to the family of Sofi Akbar- the “grand old man of Kashmir’s separatist politics”. Sofi, a former associate of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, rebelled after the 1975 accord between Sheikh and Delhi. In 1977, he founded the Mahaz-e-Azadi (Front for the Liberation of Kashmir) and led the separatist cause until his death in 1987. "Everyone knows the role Sofi Akbar (sahib) played in the political arena of J&K," Wani remarked, highlighting his political roots. "From my childhood, I was involved in the political landscape of Sopore. I always dreamed of seeing Sopore develop like Chandigarh, a well-planned city. But year after year, the elected MLAs failed to fulfill those dreams. Sopore still lingers in the past, as if stuck in the 1947 era." During a door-to-door campaign in Sopore's Ashipir area, once a “no go zone” Wani, who is also the president of Anjuman-e-Moinul Islam,a religious and educational body in Sopore- urged residents to vote for him, saying, "We have suffered for years, but now it’s up to you to elect the most competent leader." His team distributed pamphlets as they campaigned. The election in Sopore promises to be a fierce contest, with National Conference (NC) and Congress, who are alliance partners, engaging in a "friendly contest." NC’s Irshad Kar and Congress’ former lawmaker Abdul Rashid Dar are locked in battle for the Sopore seat. "A friendly contest does not mean we will keep our hands folded. A contest is a contest," said NC candidate Kar. In the 2014 assembly polls, Congress's Rashid Dar won the seat by defeating the NC candidate. Independent candidate, Wani says that this time the change is inevitable. "I have a firm belief that people of Sopore have understood what they (traditional parties) have done in the past both politically as well as on the developmental front. It is the time to make them pay for their past deeds as they exploited the people’s mandate for their personal gains. No doubt I don’t have the backing of any political party but I can say with authority that I have the backing of my people," Wani asserted. In the recent Lok Sabha election, Sopore saw a voter turnout of over 44%, a significant shift from the single-digit participation that had plagued the region for decades. Adding to the complexity, Sopore has a strong base of the banned Jamaat-e-Islami. Recently, Jamaat announced its support for Haji Manzoor Ahmed Kaloo, a former Hurriyat leader running as an independent candidate. However, the group remains divided. "Even though Jamaat has backed an independent candidate, I will not vote for him," said a Jamaat supporter from Sopore’s Noorbagh area. The outcome of Sopore’s election will significantly hinge on how Jamaat supporters choose to vote on next Tuesday...////...