J&K Assembly Elections 2024: Ghulam Nabi Azad's DPAP, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP Announce Candidates List

The Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have announced their first list of candidates for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. These elections, the first since the abrogation of Article 370, are scheduled to be held in three phases: September 18 and 25, and October 1. The results will be declared on October 4.

DPAP Candidates for Jammu and Kashmir Elections

DPAP's list includes 13 candidates. Former J&K minister Abdul Majeed Wani will contest from Doda East, while former MLA Mohammad Amin Bhat is fielded from Devsar. Former J&K advocate general Mohammad Aslam Goni will run from Bhaderwah. Other candidates include DDC member Saleem Parray from Dooru and Muneer Ahmed Mir from Lolab.

Additional DPAP candidates are Bilal Ahmed Deva from Anantnag West, Ghulam Nabi Wani (Nellora) from Rajpora, Mir Altaf Hussain from Anantnag, and Qaiser Sultan Ganai (Jin) from Ganderbal. Ghulam Nabi Bhat will contest from Eidgah, Amir Ahmed Bhat from Khanyar, Nisar Ahmed Lone from Gurez, and Peer Bilal Ahmed from Hazratbal.

AAP Releases First List

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also released its first list of candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections this evening. This marks a significant step as new players like Awami Ittehad Party's (AIP) incarcerated chief Sheikh Abdul Rashid, known as Engineer Rashid, who has been in Tihar jail since 2019 on alleged terror charges, make their presence felt.

Historically, no single party has secured a majority in J&K since the 1996 Assembly elections. This has led to coalition governments or periods of central rule. The results on October 4 could lead to more negotiations or another period of central governance.

Last Assembly Elections

The previous Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in November 2014. They resulted in a coalition government between the PDP and BJP led by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. After his death in 2016, his daughter Mehbooba took over as chief minister. However, in June 2018, the BJP withdrew support, leading to governor's rule.

On August 5, 2019, the BJP-led central government revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370. This move split the state into two Union territories: Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir.

A Look at Lok Sabha Results

In recent Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won both seats in Jammu and led in 29 out of 36 assembly segments there. Congress led in the remaining seven segments. In contrast, the NC won both seats in the Kashmir Valley and led in 27 out of 47 assembly segments. The PDP managed leads in only five segments.

Engineer Rashid's AIP led in 15 out of 18 assembly segments within Baramulla constituency while Sajjad Lone's People's Conference (PC) led in just one segment.

The upcoming elections are crucial as they will determine whether a stable government can be formed or if J&K will face another period of political uncertainty.