The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has released the list of some of its candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, scheduled to take place in three phases starting September 18.
The party, led by Mehbooba Mufti, has promised to pursue the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's "original status" and advocate for confidence-building measures between India and Pakistan in its election manifesto, titled 'People's Aspirations'.
The manifesto also pledges to establish full connectivity across the Line of Control (LoC) for trade and social exchange, and to revoke several controversial laws, including the Public Safety Act (PSA) and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
In the last Assembly polls in 2014, PDP had won 28 seats and formed the government with BJP, which had won 25 seats, and swept Jammu.
Here is the list of PDP candidates announced so far:
Kashmir Region:
Anantnag - Mehboob Beg
Anantnag East - Abdul Rehman Veeri
Bijbehara - Iltija Mufti
Chadoora - Mohd Yaseen Bhat
Char-e-Shareef - Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura
Devsar - Sartaj Ahmad Madani
Dooru - Mohd Ashraf Malik
Habakadal - Arif Laigroo
Hazratbal - Asiea Naqash
Kangan - Syed Jamaat Ali Shaheen
Kishtwar - Firdous Ahmad Tak
Kulgam - Mohd Amin Dar
Lalchowk - Zuhaib Yousf Mir
Pampore - Zahoor Ahmad Mir
Pulwama - Waheed-ur Rehman Parra
Rajpora - Syed Bashir Ahmed
Shaltang - Ab Qayoom Bhat
Shopain - Yawar Bandey
Tangmarg - Shabir Ahmad Mir
Tral - Rafiq Ahmad Naik
Watchi - Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Wani
Jammu Region:
Bahu - Verinder Singh Sonu
Poonch Hawali - Shamim Ganai
R.S Pora - Narendra Shamra
Samba - Rajender Manhas
(The list will be updated as more candidates are announced)
