With Deadline Approaching, Congress and NC Grapple with Seat Sharing Disputes in J&K

With Deadline Approaching, Congress and NC Grapple with Seat Sharing Disputes in J&K

There had been no official announcement on any seat till Sunday evening, but local leaders were informed about the list of candidates. Local Congress leaders have questioned the ‘allotment’ of Hindu-dominated seats — Nagrota, Jammu North, Vijaypur, Sunderbani-Kalakote & Nowshera — to National Conference On the other hand, NC workers are agitated over Banihal seat going to the Congress. Even as the senior leadership of the Congress and National Conference (NC) announced a pre-poll alliance in J&K, internal strife has started following an impasse on some seats in the Jammu…

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NC, PDP Embrace Possibility of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Entry into Jammu & Kashmir Polls

NC, PDP Embrace Possibility of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Entry into Jammu & Kashmir Polls

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) said on Sunday banned Jamaat-e-Islami’s (JeI) willingness to contest the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir is a good step, but the ban on the organisation should be revoked. “It is a good thing. I want the Government of India to revoke ban on the JeI because if you are not banning communal organisations which are spreading venom in this country, I do not want to name them, those who take out rallies, pelt stones on mosques, lynch Muslims, then why is there a ban on…

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Democracy in Action: 14 Candidates File Nominations for Phase-I in J&K

Democracy in Action: 14 Candidates File Nominations for Phase-I in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 24: Fourteen candidates officially submitted their nomination papers for Phase-I of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. The nominations were filed on the fourth day of the election process, marking a significant step towards the democratic exercise in the J&K. In Kulgam district, the Damhal Hanjipora constituency saw prominent leaders like Sakeena Itoo from the National Conference (NC) and Abdul Majeed Paddar from the Apni Party (AP) enter the fray. Meanwhile, Nazir Ahmad Laway of the Peoples Conference (PC) filed his papers for the Kulgam constituency, and the Devsar…

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PDP Manifesto 2024: Revoking Controversial Laws and Seeking Kashmir Resolution

PDP Manifesto 2024: Revoking Controversial Laws and Seeking Kashmir Resolution

PDP president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who released the manifesto, threw her weight behind INDIA bloc partners — Congress and National Conference Hardening its stand, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) manifesto on Saturday (August 24, 2024) put the resolution of the Kashmir issue, resumption of India-Pakistan dialogue, revocation of laws like the Public Safety Act (PSA), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Enemy Property Act, along with the restoration of freedom of the press at the top of the agenda. No truck with BJP PDP…

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BJP’s Jammu Gamble: Can Sangh’s Campaign Turn the Tide?

BJP’s Jammu Gamble: Can Sangh’s Campaign Turn the Tide?

With the entry of RSS functionary Ram Madhav as one of the poll in-charges for the J&K Assembly poll, the BJP is banking on campaign by the right wing organisation. Several rounds of meetings have already taken place between Madhav and senior BJP leaders of J&K. Even when Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was addressing Congress workers on Thursday, a closed door meeting on the names of probable BJP candidates for the first phase was held between Madhav and BJP leaders in Jammu. BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh,…

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Countdown to Consensus: Congress-NC Alliance Navigates Seats

Countdown to Consensus: Congress-NC Alliance Navigates Seats

A day after the National Conference (NC) and the Congress sealed an alliance for the three-phase Assembly poll in J&K, slated to begin next month, NC vice-president and former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the consensus on some of the seats was yet to be finalised. Omar on Friday travelled to South Kashmir’s Kulgam, where senior party leader and former minister Sakina Itoo, filed her nomination papers from Damhal Hanjipora Assembly seat in Kulgam district. “We hope that when the people of J&K decide about their government for the next five…

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J&K Politics: Apni Party and Azad’s DPAP Face Turbulence as Leaders Jump Ship

J&K Politics: Apni Party and Azad’s DPAP Face Turbulence as Leaders Jump Ship

J&K Politics: Shaky Ground for Apni Party and DPAP The Apni Party and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) were formed with much fanfare after the abrogation of Article 370, but both have failed to make a mark in the UT’s political spectrum and continue to lose founding members and senior leaders. As Jammu and Kashmir remained without any elected government, former PDP leader Altaf Bukhari and former Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad formed their own parties with dozens of former legislators and senior political leaders. But the two parties continue…

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Er. Rashid’s Controversy: NC Claims BJP Influence Behind Bars

Er. Rashid’s Controversy: NC Claims BJP Influence Behind Bars

Bandipora, August 23 : Senior National Conference leader Hilal Akbar Lone has leveled serious allegations against jailed MP Er. Rashid, claiming that he is a BJP agent. Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, NC leader Hilal Akbar Lone as per KD cautioned the people, urging them not to be swayed by hollow and emotional slogans, as was the case in the previous Lok Sabha elections, where people were misled and exploited. He warned the people to be vigilant and not fall victim to such misconceptions again. The NC leaders stated that…

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Election Trump Card: Why Kashmiri Pandits are the Focus of Every Party in J&K

Election Trump Card: Why Kashmiri Pandits are the Focus of Every Party in J&K

At present, the Apni Party have described the return of Pandits as a priority in their manifestos. BJP is already working on many plans for the return of Pandits. PDP has also stated that the valley is incomplete without Pandits. Kashmiri Pandits, who have been facing the brunt of displacement for more than three decades, are on the agenda of all parties in coming elections. All members of this community, which has a vote count of about 1.15 lakh in Jammu and Kashmir, want a respectable return to the valley.…

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Amit Shah Targets Congress Over J&K Pre-Poll Alliance, Poses 10 Tough Questions to Rahul Gandhi

Amit Shah Targets Congress Over J&K Pre-Poll Alliance, Poses 10 Tough Questions to Rahul Gandhi

The alliance was announced by NC president Farooq Abdullah after discussions with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Srinagar. Union home minister Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on the Congress party over its alliance with the National Conference (NC) for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, questioning its stance on key issues outlined in the NC’s poll manifesto. “The Congress party, which has repeatedly risked the nation’s unity and security to satiate its greed for power, has once again exposed its ulterior motives by…

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