Pulwama, Aug 25: Seven independent candidates backed by the Jammat-e-Islami (Jel), which is facing a five-year ban, are likely to contest the upcoming elections from various constituencies of south Kashmir.
Reliable sources told Rising Kashmir that Jammat will back seven independent candidates for the first phase of elections beginning September 18, 2024.
They said the constituencies where these independent candidates are likely to file their nominations include Kulgam, Devsar, Bijbehara, Zainapora, Pulwama, Rajpora and Tral falling in four districts of south Kashmir.
The sources didn’t disclose the names of the candidates but one of the independent candidates is likely to be Dr Talat Majid, a former member of JeI, who left his government job in the Agriculture Department to participate in the democratic process on behalf of the organisation.
Dr Talat, a prominent figure among the seven, is likely to contest the elections from the Pulwama constituency.
JeI was declared an “unlawful association” on February 28, 2019, and the ban was extended for a further five years by the Ministry of Home Affairs in February 2024.
The Jel members had openly participated in the previous parliamentary elections in Jammu & Kashmir with the Panel Head of the organisation, Ghulam Qadir Wani, reiterating his faith in the democratic process and willingness to contest future elections subject to the lifting of the ban.
An Unlawful Activities (Tribunal), constituted in March of this year by MHA to adjudicate the matter, upheld the ban.
The reliable sources told Rising Kashmir that the organisation initially intended to float a political party to contest the elections.
“The idea didn’t work because of the time constraints in competing for various legal formalities given upcoming elections,” they said, adding that a decision was taken by the Shoora (core members) on Saturday that the organisation will support independent candidates from seven constituencies of south Kashmir for the first phase of the elections.
“All the candidates may not necessarily be from the organisation,” sources said, adding that the JeI may support like-minded independent candidates in some constituencies.
Earlier, Jamaat-e-Islami had contested elections in 1987 which were widely perceived to have been rigged.
