The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has unveiled its initial list of 18 candidates for the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. This announcement came after the party finalized a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress. Among the key candidates are Retired Justice Hussnain Masoodi for Pampore, Mohammad Khalil Bandh for Pulwama, and Sakina Ittoo for DH Pora. The list showcases a combination of seasoned politicians and notable personalities representing both the Kashmir and Jammu regions.
This development is a significant move as the NC gears up to contest 51 seats, while the Congress will vie for 32 seats in the upcoming three-phase elections.
As approved by Party President Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has nominated the following candidates to contest in the upcoming Assembly elections:
The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) is a major political party in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Founded in 1932 by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, it played a pivotal role in the region’s political history, advocating for the rights of Kashmiri Muslims and greater autonomy for the state within the Indian Union. The party’s ideology is centered around Kashmiri nationalism, secularism, and social justice. Over the decades, the JKNC has dominated the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, with its leaders often holding the position of Chief Minister when the region had statehood. The party has been led by members of the Abdullah family, with Dr. Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah serving as key figures. JKNC has historically been a strong advocate for the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, which was abrogated by the Indian government in 2019.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the INC has often been an ally of regional parties like the JKNC. The two parties have formed alliances in the past, including for the upcoming 2024 Assembly elections, where they have agreed on a seat-sharing arrangement to contest the polls jointly. This alliance is seen as a strategic move to consolidate anti-BJP votes in the region.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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