Congress announces first list of nine candidates for J&K assembly polls

The party has fielded two former chiefs of its J&K unit, Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Vikar Rasool Wani, from their Dooru and Banihal constituencies, respectively.

Updated on: Aug 27, 2024, 04:23:19 IST

By HT News Desk, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

The Congress has announced its first nine candidates for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, fielding Ghulam Ahmad Mir and Vikar Rasool Wani, two former presidents of its J&K unit, from their Dooru and Banihal assembly constituencies, respectively.

Congress supporters with Congress flags ahead of a rally. (File photo)

Also Read: 350 companies of para forces to stay in poll-bound Jammu and Kashmir

The grand old party also named Surinder Singh Channi (Tral), Amanullah Mantoo (Devsar), Peerzada Mohd Syed (Anantnag), Sheikh Zafarullah (Inderwal), Nadeem Sharief (Bhadarwah), Sheikh Riyaz (Doda) and Dr Pradeep Kumar Bhagat (Doda West).

The Congress will fight 37 seats in the 90-member assembly. It will contest the elections with its INDIA bloc ally, the National Conference (NC); the agreement will see the parties contest 32 and 51 seats, respectively, while on five seats, they will be engaged in a ‘friendly but disciplined’ competition.

The remaining two seats have been given to Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Panthers Party.

Also Read: Congress, INDIA ally National Conference announce seat sharing pact for Jammu and Kashmir polls

The seat-sharing talks were sealed in a meeting between NC president Farooq Abdullah and his son and party deputy Omar Abdullah – the two are ex-chief ministers – with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and ex-chief Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

The meeting was held on Wednesday in Srinagar, the summer capital of the former state; the region lost both its special status (via abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India) and statehood in 2019, and is now a Union territory.

Also Read: BJP rescinds Jammu and Kashmir nominee list; issues fresh ones amid rumblings

The assembly polls will be J&K's first since November-December 2014. Voting is on September 18, 25 and October 1, with counting of votes three days after the third and final phase.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.