Srinagar, Sept 16: The stage is set for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections as official campaigning concluded at 6:00 pm on Monday. On September 18, voters in 24 constituencies will cast their ballots, including 16 in South Kashmir and eight in the Chenab Valley. The elections are a major political event, with 219 candidates, including several prominent leaders, contesting for legislative positions.
Kulgam: Veteran CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami seeks re-election for a fifth consecutive term. Representing Kulgam since 1996, Tarigami faces nine challengers, including Sayyar Ahmad Reshi, an independent backed by Jammat-e-Islami. This constituency was initially predicted to be a triangular contest among Tarigami, PC’s Nazir Ahmad Laway, and PDP’s Mohammad Amin Dar.
Dooru: Ghulam Ahmad Mir, former chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee, aims to reclaim the seat he lost in 2014 by a narrow margin of 161 votes. The Congress-NC alliance candidate faces a quadrilateral battle against PDP’s Mohammad Ashraf Malik, JKAP’s Bashir Ahmad Wani, and DPAP’s Mohammad Saleem Parray.
D.H. Pora: National Conference veteran Sakina Itoo, a two-time representative of this constituency, is seeking re-election. She faces competition from the PDP candidate.
Bijbehara: Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, is contesting from her family’s traditional seat. She will face National Conference’s Bashir Veeri, who has lost the previous two elections from this seat.
Pulwama: PDP’s Waheed ur Rehman Parra is competing against Khalil Ahmad Bandh, a former PDP member now running on a National Conference ticket. Bandh, a three-time winner before switching sides after the abrogation of Article 370, faces competition from independent candidate Dr. Talat Majid, backed by Jammat-e-Islami. Parra, who lost the Srinagar Parliamentary seat to NC’s Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi in 2024, seeks redemption.
Doda: A friendly contest is anticipated between National Conference’s Khalid Najib Suharwady, a former home minister, and Congress’ Sheikh Riyaz.
Pampore: PDP stalwart Zahoor Ahmad Mir is seeking re-election for a fourth term. He faces strong competition from National Conference leader and former MP Hasnain Masoodi. The race is further complicated by independent candidate Advocate Mohammad Maqbool Shah, supported by Pampore United Forum.
