Congress Releases Third List for Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Polls

The Congress on Monday unveiled its third list of candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, featuring notable figures like Raman Bhalla and Chaudhary Lal Singh. This brings the total number of declared Congress candidates to 34. The party has finalized a seat-sharing arrangement with the National Conference.

The Congress on Monday released its third list for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, featuring JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla from RS Pura-Jammu South and Chaudhary Lal Singh from Basohli. This latest list also includes former NSUI chief Neeraj Kundan from Bishnah (SC).

The announcement brings the total number of declared Congress candidates to 34 for the upcoming assembly elections. The National Conference and the Congress have finalised a seat-sharing formula under which they will contest 51 and 32 seats, respectively. A friendly contest is expected on a few seats.

In addition to Bhalla, Singh, and Kundan, Congress also named Irshad Ab Gani from Langate, Haji Abdul Rashid Dar from Sopore, Adv. Irfan Hafeez Lone from Wagoora-Kreeri, Summit Mangotra from Udhampur West, Mool Raj from Ramnagar (SC), Kajal Rajput from Bani, and Manohar Lal Sharma from Billawar, among the 19 candidates announced Monday.

The party also fielded Thakur Balbir Singh from Jasrota, Rakesh Choudhary Jatt from Hiranagar, Yashpal Kundal from Ramgarh (SC), Krishan Dev Singh from Samba, T.S. Tony from Bahu, Yogesh Sawhney Balbir Singh from Nagrota, Thakur Manmohan Singh from Jammu West, and Mula Ram from Marh (SC).

Last Monday, the Congress had released its second list of six candidates, headlined by JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra from Central Shalteng. Prior to this, the party had announced nine candidates. The Jammu and Kashmir elections will be held in three phases -- September 18, September 25, and October 1 -- with the counting of votes scheduled for October 8.

(With inputs from agencies.)