SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) has released its first list of 18 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. The list is part of a pre-poll alliance with Congress, which involved intense negotiations before finalizing the seat-sharing arrangement.
According to Kashmir Dot Com, the list, approved by NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, includes Retd. Justice Hussnain Masoodi from Pampore, Mohammad Khalil Bandh to contest from Pulwama, Gh. Mohi-Ud-Din Mir from Rajpora, Showkat Hussain Ganie from Zainpora, Sheikh Mohammad Rafi from Shopian, Sakina Ittoo from D.H. Pora, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad from Devsar, and Chowdary Zaffer Ahmad from Larnoo.
Similarly, Abdul Majeed Larmi will contest from Anantnag West, Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri from Bijbehara, Reyaz Ahmad Khan from Anantnag East, Altaf Ahmad Kaloo from Pahalgam, Mehboob Iqbal from Bhaderwah, Khalid Najeeb Soharwardy from Doda, Arjun Singh Raju from Ramban, Sajad Shaheen from Banihal, Sajad Kichloo from Kishtwar, and Pooja Thakur from Pader-Nagsani.
The NC and Congress have sealed a pre-poll alliance for the elections, with the NC securing 55 seats and Congress 30. Out of NC’s share, Kulgam will be allotted to CPM’s Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, while Ram Nagar in Jammu will go to Harsh Dev Singh of the Panthers Party. The Congress will contest seven key seats in Kashmir, including Anantnag East, Dooru, Tral, Bandipora, Langate, Kreeri-Wagora, and Shalteng.
According to sources, negotiations leading up to the seat-sharing deal were tense, with both parties pushing for key constituencies. At one point, the alliance nearly collapsed when Congress demanded Lalchowk and Eidgah, two critical segments. Dr. Farooq Abdullah, as per sources, in a strong response, indicated that NC was ready to field candidates in all 90 seats if necessary. This stance led Congress to soften its position, allowing the alliance to finalize the seat distribution.
The remaining five seats will see a “friendly contest” between NC and Congress, where both parties will field their candidates independently.
On August 27, the last day for filing nominations for Phase 1, the NC will submit papers for 18 candidates (including two involved in friendly contests with Congress), while Congress will file nominations for nine candidates. Polling for Phase 1 is scheduled for September 18 across 24 constituencies. (KDC)
