Congress declares 15 candidates for Jammu and Kashmir polls

NEW DELHI: Congress today announced 15 candidates for the first phase of assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir which included Imtiyaz Paray, son of anti-militancy group founder Kuka Paray, among others.

The party also declared Mohammad Sharief Niaz from Bhaderwah constituency, from where former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had contested assembly elections in 2008.

The list was released a day after notification was issued for the first phase of polls to be held on November 25 in which 15 assembly seats -- three in Baramulla, two in Srinagar, four in Ladakh and six in Udhampur -- will go to polls.

Imtiyaz Paray will contest elections from Sonawari constituency. His father, also a former MLA, had established 'Ikhwan-ul-Muslemoon', a counter-insurgent force to fight militants. He was killed by militants in 2003.

Sitting MLA and Minister Rigzin Jora will be contesting from Leh again.

The list includes Usman Majeed, a close aide of Kuka Parey, who will be contesting from Bandipore. Congress had not contested from the seat in last elections.

Faqir Mohd Khan will contest from Gurez constituency, and Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh from Kangan constituency, according to a list issued by Congress party headquarters here.

Mohammad Yusuf Bhat will contest from Ganderbal, Dildan Namgyal from Nobra, Ashgar Karbalal from Kargil, Ghulam Raza from Zanskar, Nek Ram from Kishtwar, G M Saroori from Inderwal, Abdul Majeed Wani from Doda, Ashok Kumar Dogra from Ramban and Viqar Rasool from Banihal constituency of the state, it said.

The polls in 87-seats of Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held in five-phases between November 23 and December 20 and counting will be held on December 23.