Congress announces first list of nine candidates for J-K Assembly polls

New Delhi [India], August 27 (ANI): The Congress on Tuesday announced a list of nine candidates who will contest in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections in a document signed by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal.
The announcement came after Congress clinched a seat-sharing deal with ally National Conference (NC).
Prominent leaders announced were Ghulam Ahmad Mir from Dooru and Vikar Rasool Wani from Banihal. While Peerzada Mohd Syed will contest for the important Anantnag constituency, Sheikh Riaz seeks the Doda seat.
The party has fielded Surinder Singh Channi from the Tral seat, Amanullah Mantoo from Devsar, Shaikh Zafarullah from Inderwal, Nadeem Sharief from Bhadarwah, and Pradeep Kumar Bhagat from Doda West.
Earlier on Monday, the National Conference announced a list of 18 candidates who have been nominated as candidates from the party for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The party said in a social media post that party president Farooq Abdullah had approved the nominations.
Contestants from key constituencies include retired Justice Hussnain Masoodi from Pampore, Mohammad Khalil Bandh from Pulwama, Sheikh Mohammad Rafi from Shopian, Gh Mohi-Ud-Din Mir from Rajpora and Khalid Najeeb Soharwardy from Doda.
Additionally, the National Conference (NC) has announced Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Mir as the candidate for Rajpora, Showkat Hussain Ganie for Zainpora, Sheikh Mohammad Rafi for Shopian, and former minister Sakina Ittoo for DH Pora, Showkat Hussain Ganie from Zainpora, Peerzada Feroze Ahmad from Devsar, Chowdary Zaffer Ahmad from Larnoo, Abdul Majeed Larmi 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, Pooja Thokur from Pader-Nagsani.
Earlier, the National Conference will contest 51 of 90 seats and Congress 32, according to the seat-sharing pact reached by the two parties for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The two parties will also have a "friendly contest" on five seats.
The two parties have left one seat each for CPI(M) and Panthers Party.
Polling in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 4.
Voting will be held for 90 assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Election Commission, the Union Territory has 88.06 lakh electors. (ANI)