BJP Releases Revised List for J&K: Announced 44 Names at 10 AM, Withdrawn in 2 Hours; Released 15 Names Again After 41 Minutes
On Monday, the BJP once again released a list of candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, featuring names of 15 candidates for the first phase. There are no changes in this list.
Earlier in the day, the party had announced a list of 44 names at 10 AM, which was withdrawn within two hours. Around noon, the party removed the list from its social media handle X.
Notably, three prominent figures—former Deputy Chief Ministers Nirmal Singh and Kavindra Gupta, and Jammu and Kashmir party President Ravindra Raina—were absent from the revised list.
Sajjad, the media spokesperson for Jammu and Kashmir, informed Daily Bhaskar that the previous list of 44 candidates was canceled due to a typing error. A new list will be released shortly.
Voting for the 90 seats in Jammu and Kashmir will occur in three phases between September 18 and October 1. The results are expected on October 4, 2024. The majority mark required for victory is 46 seats.
Released the list of 15 names for the first phase…
List of names withdrawn for the second phase…
List of names withdrawn for the third phase…
RP Singh and Shazia Ilmi Appointed Media Coordinators
The BJP has appointed national spokesperson RP Singh and Shazia Ilmi as media coordinators for Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, Vinith Joshi, the Punjab State Media Coordinator, will also be part of the media coordination team for the Jammu and Kashmir elections.
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections: Political Parties Announce Candidates
Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP): On August 25, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, led by former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, released its first list of candidates for the assembly elections. The list includes 13 names. The party has fielded Kaisar Sultan Ganai against National Conference leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Ganderbal. Former Minister Abdul Majid Wani has been nominated from Doda East, and Aslam Gani, the former state Advocate General, is the candidate from Bhaderwah.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP): AAP has announced its first list of candidates, featuring seven names. The party has nominated Faiyaz Ahmed Sofi from Pulwama, Mudassir Hussain from Rajpora, Sheikh Fida Hussain from Devsar, Mohsin Shafqat Mir from Dooru, Mehraj Din Malik from Doda, Yasir Shafi Mattoo from Doda West, and Mudassir Azmat Mir from Banihal.
Jamaat-e-Islami Party Ban: Leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami Party will contest as independent candidates in seven constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir. The party was declared an illegal organization by the central government under the UAPA Act 1967 in 2019, and the ban was extended for another five years in February this year. The party will field candidates in Kulgam, Devsar, Anantnag-Bijbehara, Shopian-Zainpora, Pulwama, Rajpora, and Tral constituencies.
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections to Be Held in Three Phases
Elections for the 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir will take place in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1. So far, 14 candidates have filed their nominations for 24 seats in the first phase.
The last date for nominations for the first phase is August 27. The Election Commission announced the dates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections on August 16. The results will be declared on October 4.
Last Assembly Election Held in 2014
The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014. Following the election, the BJP and PDP formed a coalition government. However, the coalition broke down in 2018, leading to the collapse of the government. Subsequently, the state was under Governor’s rule (as per the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution) for six months before President’s rule was imposed.
During President’s rule in 2019, the Lok Sabha elections were conducted, resulting in a massive victory for the BJP at the center. On August 5, 2019, the BJP government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Thus, the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are being held for the first time in ten years.
