Congress Unveils Second List of Candidates for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

The Congress party has revealed its second list of candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, featuring six candidates. This list follows extensive deliberations by the Central Election Committee. Concurrently, Congress and the National Conference have formed an alliance to contest in the state’s polls.

The Congress party on Monday announced its second list of six candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The newly fielded candidates include Tariq Hameed Karra from Central Shalteng, Mumtaz Khan from Reasi, and Bhupender Jamwal from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.

This development follows a meeting of Congress' Central Election Committee at its headquarters in New Delhi, aiming to finalize the candidates. Earlier, on August 27, the party had released its initial list of nine candidates, signed by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal.

Additionally, prominent leaders Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Vikar Rasool Wani, Peerzada Mohd Syed, Sheikh Riaz, Surinder Singh Channi, Amanullah Mantoo, Shaikh Zafarullah, Nadeem Sharief, and Pradeep Kumar Bhagat will be contesting from various constituencies.

Congress has partnered with the National Conference for the elections. As per their arrangement, the NC will contest 51 seats, while Congress will contest 32. Both parties will also compete against each other in five seats, and one seat each will be left for CPI (M) and Panthers Party. The Samajwadi Party has also lent its support to this alliance.

Jammu and Kashmir comprises 90 assembly constituencies with special reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). The region has 88.06 lakh eligible voters, according to the Election Commission of India.

This election marks the first in the region since the abrogation of Article 370, with polling scheduled in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, followed by vote counting on October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)