J&K polls: Cong releases first list; Azad’s hometown goes to Niaz

The Congress on Wednesday released its first list of candidates for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. With party stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chief minister, not contesting from his hometown Bhaderwah constituency, fuelling speculation he may not contest polls.

The Congress on Wednesday released its first list of candidates for Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. With party stalwart Ghulam Nabi Azad, former chief minister, not contesting from his hometown Bhaderwah constituency, fuelling speculation he may not contest polls.

The party general secretary Madhusudan Mistry released the fifteen names from New Delhi out of 87 seats it is contesting from.

While Abdul Majeed Wani was fielded from Doda, Muhammad Sharief Niaz will contest from Bhaderwah. Azad contested the parliament seat from Doda-Bhaderwah but lost to the BJP. There were speculation Azad contesting polls this time. The former chief minister did not contest the 2008 assembly polls too.

The Congress has also given mandate to slain counter-insurgent Kuka Parray’s son Imtiyaz Paray from Sonawari. Former separatist Usman Majeed will contest from Bandipora. Muhammad Yususf Bhat, who was at the Centre of the job controversy involving National Conference leader Haji Muhammad Yusuf, will contest from Ganderbal.

The others who were given mandate are Faqir Muhammad Khan from Gurez, Ajaz Ahmad Sheikh from Kangan, Dildan Namgyal from Nobra, former MP Asghar Karbalai from Kargil, Ghulam Raza from Zanskar, Nek Ram from Kishtwar, GM Saroori from Inderwal and Ashok Kumar Dogra from Ramban.