Jammu Kashmir Elections: Find Key Candidates in Fray as Valley Gears up for First Phase Polls

Jammu/Shrinagar: Jammu and Kashmir is preparing for fresh elections in nearly a decade, after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A, with 279 candidates vying for 24 constituencies. The elections for the phase 1 are scheduled for September 18, with most of the seats going for polls are located in the terror-affected South Kashmir region or the hilly areas of Jammu. 

The Congress and Omar Abdullah's National Conference have formed a strategic alliance under the INDI Block. The Congress will contest 32 seats, while the National Conference will field candidates in 53 constituencies. The CPM is putting forward a candidate in 1 seat.

The BJP has not constituted any alliance and has not announced candidates for 8 of the 24 seats going in the first phase. 

Notable Candidates of INDI

• Hasnain Masoodi is running from the Pampore constituency. Masoodi is former MP from the National Conference representing Anantnag, he has held various significant roles in the past.
• Sakina Itoo of the JKNC is contesting from D H Pora assembly seat. She previously served as a cabinet minister in Omar Abdullah's government and was the youngest assembly member when she was first elected in 1996 at age 26.
• Gulam Ahmed Meer is running from Dooru for the Congress. Meer is a former Congress chief of the state.
• Vikar Rasool Wani, former Congress state president, is competing from Banihal constituency.
• Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami is the CPM's sole candidate in the INDI alliance. A four-time MLA and spokesperson for the Gupkar Declaration formed after the abrogation of Article 370, he has a long history of political engagement.

Notable Candidates of BJP

• Sunil Kumar Sharma, a former cabinet minister in the Mehbooba Mufti's PDP BJP Alliance government and ex-MLA, is contesting from Padder–Nagseni.
• Daleep Singh Parihar, a former BJP MLA, is contesting from Bhaderwah.

PDP Heavyweight Candidates

• Abdul Rehman Veeri, the current vice president of the PDP and a former minister in Jammu and Kashmir, is contesting the Shangus Assembly constituency.
• Waheed Para, PDP Youth Wing National President is contesting from Pulwama Assembly seat.

As per the schedule of assembly elections in J&K, polls in the state will be held in 3 phases. While the first phase will be held on Sept 18, the second and third phases will take place on Sept 25 and October 1 respectively.  The counting of votes and results will be declared on October 4.