The assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases; September 18, 25 and October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 4. On August 19, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released the first list of constituency in-charges.

Abdul Rehman Veeri – Anantnag East

Abdul Rehman Veeri helms as the vice-president of the PDP. He represented Bijbehara assembly constituency in South Kashmir for the fourth consecutive time in 2014. He defeated National Conference’s Bashir Ahmed Shah. Veeri got first elected in the 1999 by-elections in Bijbehara constituency after Mehbooba Mufti resigned from the Assembly and the Congress to float the PDP with her father Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. He got elected again in 2002, 2008, and 2014. He has served as the Cabinet Minister and Minister of State as well.

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Sartaj Ahmad Madani – Devsar

Mohammad Sartaj Madni is former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti’s maternal uncle. He serves as the Chairman of PDP’s Parliamentary Board. In 2014 election, Madani lost from Devsar Assembly constituency in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district to Congress candidate Mohammad Amin Bhat.

Mirza Mehboob Beg – Anantnag

Mirza Mehboob Beg currently serves as General Secretary(Organisation) of the PDP. Son of veteran NC leader Mirza Afzal Beg, Beg was a medical practitioner before following his father’s footstep into politics. However, in 2014, he quit the party and joined PDP in 2015. He has been elected to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Legislative Council and the Indian Parliament multiple times. Besides, he has also served as the Cabinet Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education .

G N Lone Hanjura – Charar-e-Shareef

Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura currently serve as PDP’s General Secretary. He served as Cabinet Minister during Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and later Mehbooba Mufti’s term and handled Agriculture Production and Revenue. Lone was nominated as the member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, and in 2007 was nominated as the Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council.

Iltija Mufti – Bijbehara

Iltija Mufti is the daughter of PDP chief and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. She emerged as a party’s important face in the political sphere when Mehbooba Mufti was imprisoned following the abrogation of Article 370. She was seen campaigning for her mother’s release and later filled in as as media adviser for PDP chief. Iltija was also active in the campaigns for Mufti during the Lok Sabha election earlier this year.

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Waheed Rehman Parra – Pulwama

Waheed Rehman Parra joined PDP in 2013 and subsequently appointed as the president of the youth wing of the party. He has also served as the Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council and as political analyst to then Chief Minister of the State Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Waheed Parra was jailed for around 19 months under the UAPA for opposing the Centre’s move. In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Parra contested unsuccessfully from the Srinagar constituency.

Rafiq Ahmad Naik – Tral

Rafiq Ahmad Naik is the son of the late Ali Mohammad Naik, senior NC leader and a former MP. In June this year, he announced his decision to join politics after retirement. He joined PDP along with his supporters on August 20.