There is a plethora of independent and young candidates in the assembly elections being held in Jammu and Kashmir after 10 years. Political parties have also placed a lot of bets on the sons and daughters of old generals. Whether it is the Abdullah family’s party National Conference or the Mufti family’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), both the parties have generously distributed tickets to those coming from the political families of Jammu and Kashmir. If we talk about the National Conference alone, there are more than two dozen candidates of the party in whose family someone or the other has been an MLA-minister or a big face of the party at some time or the other. Let’s take a look at some such candidates who are being discussed a lot…
Hilal Akbar Lone
Hilal Akbar Lone is contesting the election from Sonwari seat on a National Conference ticket. A lawyer by profession, Hilal is the son of former Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker and former MP Akbar Lone. Akbar Lone is counted among the powerful leaders of the National Conference.
salman sagar
Salman Sagar is the National Conference candidate from Hazratbal assembly seat. Salman is the son of former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar, who is considered one of the powerful leaders of the National Conference. Ali is also contesting from Khanyar seat of Srinagar.
Mian Mehar Ali
National Conference candidate from Kangan seat, Mian Mehar Ali is the fourth generation of the Mian family in politics. Mehar’s father Mian Altaf is an MP from National Conference while his grandfather Mian Bashir Ali has also been an MLA from Kangan. Bashir’s father Mian Nizamuddin Ali also represented Kangan seat in the assembly.
irshad rasul kar
Irshad Rasool Kar is contesting from Doda seat on a National Conference ticket. Irshad is the son of North Kashmir’s strong leader Ghulam Rasool Kar. Ghulam Rasool Kar was in Congress. Irshad was earlier in Mehbooba Mufti-led PDP. Irshad left PDP and joined National Conference.
Dr Sajjad Shafi
Dr. Sajjad Shafi has been fielded by the National Conference from the Uri assembly seat. Dr. Sajjad, a doctor by profession, is the son of National Conference’s strong leader Mohammad Shafi. Mohammad Shafi has also been a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir government.
Mehboob Beg
Mirza Afzal Beg, father of PDP candidate from Anantnag seat Mehboob Beg, has also been a powerful leader. Afzal Beg has also been a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir government led by the National Conference. Mehboob joined the PDP during the 2014 assembly elections.
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Shafi closed on this
PDP has given ticket to Yawar Shafi Bande from Shopian assembly seat. Yawar Shafi Bande is the son of Mohammad Shafi Bande who had contested election from Shopian on Congress ticket. Yawar’s grandfather Abdul Majeed Bande has been MLA from Shopian twice.
Agha Sayyed Muntazir
Aga Syed Muntazir has been fielded by the PDP from Budgam seat. Aga Syed Muntazir is the son of Anjuman Shari Shiyan president Aga Syed Hasan Al Moosavi. Aga Syed Hasan was also associated with the separatist Hurriyat Conference. Two other members of the Aga family, Aga Syed Ahmed and Aga Syed Mahmood, are also trying their luck in the Jammu and Kashmir elections this time.
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Tanveer Sadiq
Tanvir, son of Sadiq Ali, a close associate of National Conference founder Sheikh Abdullah, is contesting from the Zadibal seat. Tanvir has also been a political advisor to former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the third generation of the Abdullah family in Kashmir politics.
mohammed rafiq naik
PDP has fielded Mohammad Rafiq Naik from Tral assembly seat. Mohammad Rafiq Naik is the son of Ali Mohammad Naik. Ali Mohammad Naik has also been a minister in the Jammu and Kashmir government and assembly speaker.
Also read: Salim Gilani, Dr. Talat Majeed, Syed Ahmed… those separatists who will now contest the elections in Kashmir
Ehsan Pardesi
National Conference candidate from Srinagar’s Lal Chowk assembly seat Ehsan Pardesi also comes from a political family. Ehsan’s father Ghulam Qadir Pardesi has also been active in politics. Ghulam Pardesi is more talked about in Jammu and Kashmir politics for his frequent party switching between the PDP and the National Conference.
Also read: Mufti family’s launch seat… Why is Mehbooba’s daughter Iltija contesting from Bijbehara only?
Iltija Mufti
Iltija Mufti is contesting the election from Bijbehara assembly seat on a PDP ticket. Iltija is the daughter of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti. After Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Mehbooba Mufti, Iltija is now the third generation of the Mufti family who will carry forward the political legacy.
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