A total of 14 Kashmiri Pandits have filed nominations for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, aiming to champion the return and rehabilitation of their community, which numbers around 300,000.
Habba Kadal, a constituency in Srinagar, has become a focal point, with six Kashmiri Pandits entering the fray.
Of these, five are running under recognized political parties, while two are contesting as independents.
Ashok Kumar Bhat (BJP), Sanjay Saraf (Lok Jan Shakti Party), and Santosh Labroo (All Alliance Democratic Party) are among the notable candidates.
Saraf, a seasoned candidate, aims to foster communal harmony and facilitate the return of Kashmiri Pandits with respect and security.
The community is relying heavily on the 25,000-strong migrant vote bank in Habba Kadal, a traditional National Conference stronghold.
Other prominent Kashmiri Pandit candidates include Ashok Raina, Panaji Dembi, and Ashok Sahaib, who are contesting as independents.
Candidates in other segments include BJP’s Vir Saraf, Apni Party’s M K Yogi, and independent Dileep Pandita, all competing in the Shangus-Anantnag segment.
Despite the participation of multiple Pandit candidates, some in the community feel that previous promises of return and rehabilitation have yet to be fulfilled.
Yogi, once associated with the NC, criticized the BJP for capitalizing on the community’s plight without providing substantial results over the last 15 years.
Rosy Raina, who has served as a Sarpanch for the last five years in South Kashmir, is another notable candidate, running for Rajpora in Pulwama.
She emphasizes the need for a safe environment for the free movement of Pandits.