SRINAGAR, Aug 27: Following the finalization of its seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress, the National Conference (NC) has released its initial list of 18 candidates for the first phase of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. This announcement, made via a post on X, received approval from NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah.
The party has fielded several notable candidates, including former MP from Anantnag, Justice (Retd) Hassnain Masoodi, who will contest from Pampore. Former legislator Mohammad Khalil Bandh has been selected to represent Pulwama.
The list also features Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Mir from Rajpora, Showkat Hussain Ganie from Zainapora, Sheikh Mohammad Rafi from Shopian, and former Minister Sakina Ittoo from DH Pora. For the South Kashmir region, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad will contest from Devsar, Chowdary Zaffer Ahmad from Larnoo, Abdul Majeed Larmi from Anantnag West, Bashir Ahmad Veeri from Bijbehara, Reyaz Ahmad Khan from Anantnag East, and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo from Pahalgam.
In Jammu region, the NC has named Mehboob Iqbal for Bhaderwah, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy for Doda, Arjun Singh Raju for Ramban, Sajad Shaheen for Banihal, former Minister Sajad Kichloo for Kishtwar, and Pooja Thakur for Pader-Nagsani.
The first phase of the Assembly elections is scheduled for September 18, with the second phase on September 25 and the third on October 1. The vote counting will take place on October 4.