What Was Given Up: Omar Abdullah on National Conference’s ‘Sacrifices’ for Congress Alliance

What Was Given Up: Omar Abdullah on National Conference’s 'Sacrifices' for Congress Alliance

J&K elections: As per the seat-sharing formula between the two parties, the National Conference will contest 51 seats while Congress will fight on 32 Jammu and Kashmir National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Friday revealed what transpired during pre-poll alliance talks with the Congress for the upcoming assembly election. Addressing a rally at the party’s headquarters in Srinagar, the former chief minister said that the election is a fight for the entire J&K. “If we have to undo the wrongs done to us, it will not only benefit us, but…

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Omar Abdullah Urges Vigilance: ‘Elections Should Never Be Taken for Granted’

Omar Abdullah Urges Vigilance: ‘Elections Should Never Be Taken for Granted’

Former CM and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Thursday said even though the newly elected Assembly lacks power, it can be strengthened through the Assembly only. Omar, who is contesting the polls from Ganderbal seat, was asked if he had sacrificed his principles after changing his earlier stance not to contest Assembly elections. He said those who talk about sacrificing principles for power have fielded their own relatives. “If they were so bound to their principles, they should have completely stayed out of the elections. What is the point…

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DPAP’s Strategy in Doubt as Ghulam Nabi Azad Withdraws From Election Campaigning

DPAP’s Strategy in Doubt as Ghulam Nabi Azad Withdraws From Election Campaigning

Clouds hang over DPAP’s plans as Azad unavailable for campaigning; Due to poor health, ex-CM not to fight election either Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is the chairman of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), is unlikely to contest the Assembly poll and wouldn’t be able to campaign in the first phase of elections, one of his party’s senior leaders said on Wednesday. “Because of Azad’s health issues, he won’t be able to campaign for at least the first phase of polls,” DPAP general secretary (organisation) RS Chib told…

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PDP Sets the Stage: Releases List of 17 Constituency In-Charges for J&K Polls

"PDP Sets the Stage: Releases List of 17 Constituency In-Charges for J&K Polls"

Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday released the list of constituency in-charges for 17 assembly segments ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The list was released by the party’s parliamentary board. As per the list, Mohammad Khursheed Alam has been appointed in-charge for Eidgah constituency while Abdul Haq Khan has been nominated for Lolab, Basharat Bukhari for Wagoora Kreeri, Javaid Iqbal Ganaie for Pattan, Sheikh Gowher Ali for Zadibal, Mohammad Iqbal Trumboo for Chanapora, Bashir Ahmed Mir for Ganderbal, Aga Syed Munatzir Mehdi for Budgam, Adv Javid Choudhary for…

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Emerging Political Fronts in J&K Struggle to Gain Foothold Amidst Established Giants

Emerging Political Fronts in J&K Struggle to Gain Foothold Amidst Established Giants

“Political formations allegedly created in Jammu and Kashmir at the behest of New Delhi in recent years and touted as king’s parties are melting away even before the electoral test” By: Aqib Ahmad Srinagar: When Usman Majid, a seasoned Kashmiri politician, joined the newly formed Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) a few years ago, he was bubbling with hope and enthusiasm. The party, created to fill the “political vacuum” and provide a “new platform” for the people, seemed promising. Majid, appointed as vice president, believed it would offer an alternative…

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Following Protests, BJP Replaces Rohit Dubey with Baldev Raj Sharma in Vaishno Devi

Following Protests, BJP Replaces Rohit Dubey with Baldev Raj Sharma in Vaishno Devi

A day after the BJP released its first list of candidates and later withdrew it following protests by party workers, the saffron party again released a list of 29 candidates with only one change on Tuesday. The party has changed the candidate for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi constituency. Earlier, the party has allocated this seat to Rohit Dubey, but now it has been given to Baldev Raj Sharma. Party workers and local leaders had staged a protest demonstration at the BJP headquarters in Jammu after the party released a…

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South Kashmir Sees Ex-Jamaat Members Running on Youth, Mainstream Platforms

South Kashmir Sees Ex-Jamaat Members Running on Youth, Mainstream Platforms

The banned outfit is also backing another Independent in J&K first phase polls; it proposed to field seven candidates for this phase, but three of them backed out Three former members of the banned outfit Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir filed their nomination papers from various constituencies of South Kashmir on Tuesday, the last day for filing nomination for the first phase of the upcoming J&K Assembly elections. These Jamaat-e-Islami nominees include Dr Talat Majeed, Sayar Ahmad Reshi and Nazir Ahmad. The Jamaat is also backing another Independent candidate Umar Hamid in…

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Jamaat-E-Islami J&K: Committed to Democracy, Candidates to Run as Independents Amid Ban

Jamaat-E-Islami J&K: Committed to Democracy, Candidates to Run as Independents Amid Ban

Will follow democratic path even if hurdles created: J&K’s banned Jamaat; Candidates to contest as Independents: Senior member The banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI-JK) is all set to “unanimously” contest the Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir next month after more than 30 years, and will “follow the democratic path, even if hurdles are created,” Jamaat senior member Ghulam Qadir Lone has told . In an interview , Lone, however, admitted that because the ban on the Jamaat remains in place, all candidates will contest as Independents. A senior member of the…

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Rahul Gandhi: ‘Running J&K from Delhi Defies Logic, Local Governance is Key’

Rahul Gandhi: 'Running J&K from Delhi Defies Logic, Local Governance is Key'

In a video of his recent visit to Srinagar, the Congress leader talked about the upcoming elections in J&K and mentioned how statehood had been taken away for the first time in Indian history Reiterating the demand for the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said it does not make sense to run J&K from Delhi. Mr. Gandhi made these remarks during an interaction with Kashmiri women during his recent visit to Srinagar, a video of which was released on…

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Resignations Shake Up Political Landscape: 2 PDP, 1 BJP DDC Members Step Down Ahead of J&K Polls

Resignations Shake Up Political Landscape: 2 PDP, 1 BJP DDC Members Step Down Ahead of J&K Polls

Angry over candidate selection for upcoming assembly polls, three district development council (DDC) members in south Kashmir – two from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – resigned from their parties Angry over candidate selection for upcoming assembly polls, three district development council (DDC) members in south Kashmir – two from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and one from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – resigned from their parties on Monday. DDC chairperson Shopian Bilquees Bano and member Harmain Abdul Rashid Lone on Monday resigned from the…

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