Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: After its seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress was finalised, National Conference (NC) today issued its first list of 18 candidates for the first phase of the three-phased Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
The party in a post on X said the list was approved by NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah.
The party named its former MP from Anantnag, Justice (Retd) Hassnain Masoodi, as its candidate from Pampore and former legislator Mohammad Khalil Bandh from Pulwama.
The NC announced the name of Ghulam Mohi-Ud-Din Mir from Rajpora, Showkat Hussain Ganie from Zainapora, Sheikh Mohammad Rafi from Shopian and former Minister Sakina Ittoo from DH Pora.
It also named Peerzada Feroze Ahmad from Devsar, Chowdary Zaffer Ahmad from Larnoo, Abdul Majeed Larmi from Anantnag West, Bashir Ahmad Veeri from Bijbehara, Reyaz Ahmad Khan from Anantnag East and Altaf Ahmad Kaloo from Pahalgam. All these seats are in south Kashmir.
For the seats in Jammu region, the NC announced Mehboob Iqbal from Bhaderwah, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy from Doda, Arjun Singh Raju from Ramban, Sajad Shaheen from Banihal, former Minister Sajad Kichloo from Kishtwar and Pooja Thakur from Pader-Nagsani.
The first phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on September 18, second on September 25 and the third on October 1. Counting of votes will be undertaken on October 4.