Congress Announces Second List of Candidates for J&K Assembly Polls

The Congress party has released its second list of six candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The list includes JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra and five other candidates. The elections will be held in three phases starting from September 18 and concluding on October 1.

The Congress party unveiled its second list of six candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, naming JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra for Central Shalteng.

The announcement followed a meeting of the Congress' Central Election Committee, which was convened to finalize the candidate lineup for the elections, held in alliance with the National Conference.

Besides Karra, the list includes Mumtaz Khan from Reasi, Bhupender Jamwal from Mata Vaishno Devi, Iftikhar Ahmed from Rajouri (ST), Shabbir Ahmed Khan from Thannamandi (ST), and Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary from Surankote (ST). These areas will vote in the second phase of the election series.

With this new list, the total number of candidates announced by the party reaches fifteen.

The pivotal meeting at the AICC headquarters saw the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, ex-party chief Rahul Gandhi, general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal, among others.

The Congress and the National Conference have agreed on a seat-sharing arrangement, contesting 51 and 32 seats, respectively, with one seat each for CPI(M) and J&K National Panthers Party.

Last week's first list introduced nine candidates, including Ghulam Ahmad Mir from Dooru and Vikar Rasool Wani from Banihal.

The elections are scheduled in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with vote counting set for October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)