J&K Assembly Elections Phase III : Key Candidates In The Fray (image: x.com/ceo_UTJK/)
Jammu and Kashmir is gearing up for the third and final phase of Assembly polls on Tuesday, October 1. The first phase of polling held on September 18 and second phase took place on September 25.
The third phase will cover the remaining 40 assembly constituencies across seven districts. Around 39.14 lakh voters will decide the fate of as many as 415 candidates which includes independents.
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Among the 40, 16 constituencies fall under Kashmir region and 24 assembly segments belongs to Jammu region. The security arrangements have been tightened ahead of third phase of election.
Key Candidates
Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh – Langate
Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh is the younger brother of released Lok Sabha MP and Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) chief Sheikh Rashid, aka Engineer Rashid. His political debut from Langate is significant because his brother represented the seat for two consecutive terms—in 2008 and in 2014. With the entry of Sheikh, the AIP aims to garner the same sympathy and anger that resulted in Rashid’s victory against seasoned politicians like Abdullah and Lone.
Sajjad Gani Lone – Handwara, Kupwara
People’s Conference (PC) chief Sajjad Gani Lone is making twin constituency bid this time. Handwara is considered as a party bastion and also his father, the late Abdul Gani Lone, secured victory from Handwara three consecutive times. In 2014, Sajjad Lone contested the seat for the first time and defeated NC leader Chowdhary Ramzan by a margin of 5424 votes. Meanwhile, Lone’s decision to contest from Kupwara is seen as a courageous act by the political analysts since parts of the assembly segments of Lolab, Handwara, and Kupwara are not viewed as a safe bet for his party.
Raman Bhalla – RS Pura
A tight battle is expected between JKPCC working president Raman Bhalla and the BJP’s national secretary, Dr Narinder Singh Raina in RS Pura. Bhalla maintains an influential local support in Jammu and Kashmir. Former Gandhi Nagar MP, his aim for a hattrick was dismantled by the BJP in the 2014 polls. While contesting from RS Pura this time, the senior Congress leader promised to focus on development and welfare if elected.
Choudhary Lal Singh – Basohli
The nomination of Choudhary Lal Singh by Congress has evoked wrath, as the Dogra leader earlier drawn into controversy for supporting accusers in the Kathua rape and murder case. As per the reports, Lal Singh’s Basohli candidacy is a strategic move by the Congress to consolidate votes in the Hindu-dominated region to topple the BJP’s upper hand. He is pitted against BJP candidate Darshan Kumar and PDP’s Yoginder Singh.
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Neeraj Kundan – Bishnah
A youth Congress leader from Jammu, Neeraj Kundan is a former National President of National Student Union of India (NSUI). In August this year, Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge appointed him as AICC Secretary and in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, he has served as AICC campaign in charge for the Gurdaspur Parliamentary seat. Kundan is pitted against BJP candidate Rajeev Kumar Bhagat and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Vicky Kumar Dogra
