Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra submitted his nomination papers for the Central Shalteng assembly constituency as part of the preparations for the upcoming assembly elections. Karra, who hails from Batmaloo, stressed the significance of undertaking positive endeavors for his community, stating that he always stands by his people when important tasks need to be accomplished.
Addressing concerns about the participation of independent candidates in the election, Karra expressed his views on the strategic motives behind their presence, suggesting that their candidacy might be orchestrated to scatter votes. He urged the electorate to discern between right and wrong choices, highlighting his own track record of making tough decisions in the best interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, BJP Jammu and Kashmir chief Ravinder Raina also entered the election fray by submitting his nomination papers from the Nowshera Assembly constituency, underlining the strong support for the BJP across the Union Territory.
Jammu and Kashmir boasts a total of 90 assembly constituencies, including 7 reserved for Scheduled Castes and 9 for Scheduled Tribes. The landscape of political representation in the region is diverse, with the People's Democratic Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, and Congress securing significant seats in the previous Assembly elections. The upcoming polls are scheduled to take place in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. Notably, the Congress has formed an alliance with the National Conference to jointly contest the elections.