Suhail Dar
Jammu Kashmir National Conference (NC) is likely to field it’s strongest candidates for south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
According to sources who spoke to The Kashmiriyat, the party has finalised the first list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu Kashmir assembly elections, set to be conducted in three phases starting September 18.
The counting of votes is scheduled for October 04, 2024.
The party’s lineup includes prominent figures such as Advocate Riyaz Ahmed Khan for Anantnag East (earlier Shangus), Peer Mohammad Hussain for Anantnag Main (Anantnag Tehsil) and Abdul Majeed Larmi (earlier Home Shalibugh) for Anantnag West.
In Bijbehara and Srigufwara (earlier Dochnipora), Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri will represent the party, while Altaf Kaloo will contest from Pahalgam.
Pampore will see former parliamentarian Justice Hussnain Masoodi as the NC candidate, and Mohammad Khalil Band will run in Pulwama.
Gulam Mohiuddin Mir is set to contest from Rajpora, with Showkat Hussain Ganie representing the party in Zainapora.
Though the names have not been officially announced, sources told The Kashmiriyat that the names will be announced ina day or two after deliberations with the Congress high command which is scheduled to meet NC top brass on Thursday or Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, sources from within the congress cadre of Jammu Kashmir said that an alliance looks unlikely in Kashmir valley since National Conference is not giving many seats to Congress in Kashmir.
“As of now, there are two seats that the NC is giving to congress which doesn’t sound workable to the local party leadership in Kashmir, but it is too early to say anything,” sources informed The Kashmiriyat.