SRINAGAR: Former J&K Chief Minister and vice president of National Conference (NC), Omar Abdullah will fight the Lok Sabha election from the Srinagar constituency.

Sources within the NC said that Omar Abdullah will contest the Srinagar constituency while former minister and senior party leader, Chowdhary Mohd Ramzan will fight from the north Kashmir Baramulla seat.

NC has already announced its candidate, senior Gujjar/Bakarwal leader, Mian Altaf Ahmad from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.

Another former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, president of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also announced her decision to fight from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.

PDP has fielded its youth wing president, Waheed Parra for Srinagar and former Rajya Sabha member, Fayaz Ahmad Mir from the Baramulla seat.

SRINAGAR: The Congress party unveiled its manifesto titled ‘Nyay Patra’ promising several key initiatives, including restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir immediately

Also, they pledged to fill nearly 30 lakh vacancies in central government posts, implement a 10 percent quota in jobs and educational institutions for economically weaker sections, adopt the Rajasthan model of cashless insurance for universal healthcare, and pass a constitutional amendment to raise the cap on reservations for SC, ST, and OBC.

They also committed to conducting a nationwide socio-economic and caste census and guaranteed a new ‘right to apprenticeship act’ for diploma holders or graduates below 25.

Furthermore, the manifesto outlined plans for urban employment programs, abolishing the Agnipath program, and ensuring normal recruitment in the armed forces to achieve full sanctioned strength.

SRINAGAR: 

National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that party patron and Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Dr Farooq Abdullah will not fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Jammu and Kashmir.

Omar Abdullah cited health as the reason for Farooq Abdullah not contesting the Lok Sabha election.

He made the announcement during a block convention in Rawalpora area of Srinagar.

National Conference is yet to announce its candidate for Srinagar and Baramulla Lok Sabha constituencies, while former minister Mian Altaf is the party candidate from Anantnag-Rajouri seat.(KNO)

SRINAGAR: The National Conference on Monday announced former minister and legislator from Kangan Mian Altaf as its Lok Sabha candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.

Announcing the candidature of Mian Altaf, NC vice president Omar Abdullah, as per Kashmir News Service (KNS) said that the party high-command believes that there will be no other better candidate than Mian Altaf for Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

He said that the party has decided to field Mian Altaf as its candidates for Anantnag-Rajouri seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

This is the party’s first announcement of candidature for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls slated to commence from April 19 in 7 phases across the country.

KNS has already reported that the NC would field Mian Altaf as its candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri seat, while NC vice-president Omar Abdullah is likely to contest from Srinagar-Pulwama constituency and Choudhary Ramzan is likely to contest from Baramulla constituency. (KNS)

SRINAGAR: The Election Commission of India declared on Saturday that the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will not be held simultaneously with the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

During a press briefing in New Delhi to unveil the schedule for Lok Sabha elections across 4 states and the 4 state assemblies, CEC Rajiv Kumar emphasised that only Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh will hold assembly polls concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections.

The Lok Sabha elections are slated to commence from April 19 and will be conducted over 7 phases, with the vote counting scheduled for June 4.

Furthermore, elections for 5 Lok Sabha constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted in 5 phases, with one constituency voting in each phase. These phases are scheduled for April 19, April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1.

SRINAGAR: Chief Election Commissioner of India Rajiv Kumar on Wednesday said that the Commission is concerned about holding Lok Sabha and Assembly elections but the final call on whether to hold two elections concurrently, will be taken about thorough consultations with the forces’ agencies and political parties.

He, however, said that elections will be held soon without much delay.

“We are concerned about Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in JK. Majority of political parties we met in Srinagar and Jammu demanded that Assembly and Lok Sabha polls be held simultaneously,” CEC Rajiv Kumar told media persons at Jammu.

He said, “As far as holding Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously, we will take a final call after a thorough security review and consultations with the political parties. One thing is sure that we want early Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in JK.”

He said that elections will be held in a peaceful manner.

“There will be free and fair polls in JK,” the CEC said. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir’s Director General of Police (DGP) RR Swain Monday said that police are fully prepared to ensure peaceful Lok Sabha elections whenever they are announced and the force will provide a safe and secure atmosphere to enthusiastic voters.

Talking to reporters after inaugurating the police post at Rohmoo in Southern district of Pulwama, the DGP said that police force is fully prepared and geared up for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in JK.

“We will ensure peaceful Lok Sabha polls in J&K. We will provide a safe and secure atmosphere to enthusiastic voters,” the DGP said, in reply to a query.

Replying to another query about links between narco-trade and militancy, the DGP said that earlier, they had a doubt whether these two are really linked. “As and when investigations progressed, concrete evidence came to fore that narco-trade and militancy are deeply not only linked but interconnected. Militant outfits like Al-Badr, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Toiba are behind this trade,” he said.

The J&K police chief said that the value of Rs 15 lakh consignment of narcotics reaches upto Rs 1 crore while travelling from Kashmir to Delhi and other parts of the country.

“We have a robust mechanism to curb and crack this trade. It is not so easy but we are doing and the police force is cable to do it,” he said. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah Saturday said that normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir is a myth as encounters take place here and there during the present BJP regime. He said Rajouri during his tenure as Chief Minister was free of militancy and today encounters are breaking out there frequently.

Omar Abdullah said the BJP is not only deceiving itself but also misleading the people of the country.

He said there is no normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party convention in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

He alleged that the BJP is escaping from elections as it is aware of the ground reality. “I don’t say that National Conference will take all the votes but it will be a force to reckon with. BJP knows its position and thus is in no mood to conduct elections in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. (KNT)

SRINAGAR: Bhartiya Janta Party on Saturday held a meeting to strategize and prepare for the forthcoming parliament elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh .

The meeting was presided by the General Secretary Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh Ashok Koul.

Party leader Koul emphasized the need for meticulous planning and readiness underlined the importance of conducting an organization-wide review meeting.

He articulated the imperative to update existing booth lists and thoroughly prepare the groundwork for the imminent electoral process.

"This meeting marks a pivotal moment for our party's preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections. It is imperative that we conduct a comprehensive review of our organization and gear ourselves up effectively for the challenges ahead," Koul was quoted as having said by the party spokesman.


The meeting underscored the BJP's commitment to proactive and strategic measures in ensuring robust representation and effective engagement in the electoral process within Kashmir.

Koul reiterated the significance of thorough preparation, emphasizing the need for coordination and synchronized efforts to secure a strong position in the forthcoming elections.

“During the meeting the focus was on to work out strategies and preparations for the forthcoming parliamentary elections to be held in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh along with the rest of the country,” a party spokesman said.

Among others the meeting was attended by the District Presidents of Kashmir division, Incharges of Kashmir, Seh Prabharis, Party Spokesperson, Media Incharge Kashmir, Social Media Incharge Kashmir, Morcha Presidents, and BJYM Vice President. (UNI)

Addressing a party rally in Srinagar, Azad said it was unfortunate that elections were not being held despite J&K being "normal".

“It has been nine years since the last election. This is perhaps for the first time in J&K’s history that elections did not take place for such a long time. When the situation was bad, there was bloodshed, and leaders left the valley, Kashmiri Pandits left the valley, that time also, elections took place after five to six years,” the former Chief Minister said.

He said when the situation is normal here it is surprising that the polls are not being conducted.

“It has not been more normal than this in the last 30-35 years, and still elections have not taken place in the last nine years. This is a matter of grave concern. What is the disadvantage of not conducting an election? The administration is doing its job, but this is not its job (holding election) ,” the former Congress leader said.

“I am not saying that Lt. Governor is not doing his work, or officers are not doing their work, but we are asking them to do such a job which is not theirs. That is the job of ministers, MLAs, and elected representatives. ... An elected MLA or a chief minister reaches everywhere, roams among the people, asking people about their issues. That does not happen now, because an officer is not for that, he is for running the office,” the DPAP Chairman said.

Later talking to reporters, Azad said that he and his colleagues have addressed 2000 meetings, in which they have always demanded that elections are necessary here as only legislators can serve the people.

On the Palestine -Israel conflict, the former CM said the powerful countries, who can restore peace and calm, have not got involved in it.

“Gaza has been made the world’s biggest prison. The powerful countries could have intervened, but since they are not, we can only pray,” he said. (UNI)