The first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir concluded on 18th September, and the second phase of voting is scheduled for the 25th. In this phase, voting will take place for 26 assembly constituencies, with a total of 239 candidates contesting. The most talked about seats in the phase are Budgam, Srinagar, and Ganderbal in central Kashmir. In this phase, voting will also take place in Poonch and Rajouri seats. Several prominent leaders, such as former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and BJP leader Ravinder Raina, are in the fray in this phase.
Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah, the former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir and vice president of the National Conference, is contesting from Budgam and Ganderbal seats. He has maintained a stronghold on the Budgam seat, where he faces competition from seven candidates this time. PDP leader Agha Syed Muntazir Mehdi and Awami National Conference leader Agha Syed Ahmed Moosavi are challenging Omar Abdullah in Budgam. Agha Syed Muntazir has previously won the Budgam seat in 2002, 2008, and 2014. The Ganderbal seat, considered a stronghold of the Abdullah family, has more than a dozen candidates, including PDP leader Bashir Ahmed Mir and National Panthers Party leader Abdul Rashid, competing against Omar Abdullah.
Ravinder Raina
Ravinder Raina, the president of Jammu and Kashmir BJP, is contesting from Rajouri, where voting will also take place in the second phase. He had a historic win in the 2014 assembly election from Rajouri and is contesting again. However, his path to victory may not be easy this time, as former BJP leader Surinder Chaudhary is now contesting from Rajouri on a National Conference ticket, leading to a tough battle between the two.
Tariq Hamid Karra
Tariq Hamid Karra, the president of Jammu and Kashmir Congress, is contesting from the Central Shalteng seat in Srinagar. He is up against PDP leader Abdul Qayoom Bhatt, Awami National Conference leader Riyaz Ahmed Mir, and Zafar Habib Dar from Apni Party. Tariq was formerly a member of Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP but resigned from the party due to opposition to the PDP-BJP alliance and later joined Congress.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari
Altaf Bukhari, leader of Apni Party, is contesting from the Channpora seat in Srinagar. He is the richest candidate in the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, with assets exceeding ₹165 crores. Other notable candidates include Mohammad Iqbal Tramboo from PDP, Mushtaq Guru from the National Conference, and Hilal Ahmed Wani from the BJP.
Sarjan Ahmad Wage, aka Sarjan Barkati
Sarjan Ahmad Wage, popularly known as Sarjan Barkati, is a religious leader from Kashmir who is currently imprisoned. Despite being in jail, he is contesting the elections from the Ganderbal and Beerwah seats. Barkati gained prominence in 2016 after the death of terrorist Burhan Wani, where he emerged as a key figure in the protests and rallies held in Shopian and Kulgam. He has been accused of promoting separatist ideologies and delivering inflammatory speeches.
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