JAMMU, Aug 26: After extensive discussions and two rounds of negotiations with the National Conference (NC) regarding seat-sharing in Srinagar, the Congress Party has unveiled its list of nine candidates for the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. According to a party spokesperson, Congress will contest 32 out of the 90 seats, while one seat each has been allocated to CPI (M) leader M.Y. Tarigami and Harshdev Singh. Additionally, there will be friendly contests on five seats, where both Congress and NC will field their candidates.
For the Banihal Assembly constituency, former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief and two-time MLA Vikar Rasool Wani will represent the Congress. The NC has also announced Sajad Shaheen as their candidate for a friendly contest in this constituency.
In the Bhaderwah segment, Congress has nominated Nadeem Sharief Niaz, a District Development Council (DDC) member and son of former minister Mohd Sharief Niaz. The NC has also put forward Mehboob Iqbal, a former bureaucrat, for a friendly contest in Bhaderwah.
For the Doda West seat, Congress has selected Dr. Pardeep Kumar Bhagat, while Sheikh Riaz Ahmed will contest from Doda East. In Doda East, the NC has fielded Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, a former MLA and minister. Sheikh Zaffraulla will represent Congress in the Inderwal constituency.
Former JKPCC chief and AICC general secretary Ghulam Ahmed Mir is the Congress candidate for the Dooru Assembly constituency. Surinder Singh Channi will stand for Congress in Tral, and former PCC chief Peerzada Mohd Syed will contest from the Anantnag (Kokernag) constituency. Additionally, the Kulgam seat in South Kashmir has been allocated to Mohd Yousuf Tarigami.
The first phase of the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled for September 18.