Tue Oct 08 12:51:49 UTC 2024: ## Independent Candidates Shake Up Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

**Srinagar, October 8, 2024:** The first Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since its loss of statehood have seen a surprising surge in independent candidates, significantly impacting the race for power. While the alliance of the J&K National Conference (NC) and Congress is currently leading, the BJP appears to have made inroads into India’s only Muslim-majority territory, largely due to the emergence of independent candidates.

Seven independent candidates are currently leading in their respective constituencies, and several others have made significant inroads into the vote share of established parties, particularly the NC. These independent contenders include former leaders from both the NC and Congress, who were denied tickets in the recent elections.

Among the key independent candidates are:

* **Shabir Ahmad Kullay (Shopian):** A former NC leader, he won the Shopian seat in 2014 but was denied a ticket by the NC this time. He is currently leading by 3500 votes.
* **Muzaffar Iqbal Khan (Thannamandi):** A former judge and NC member, he was also denied a ticket. He is leading by 6500 votes.
* **Satish Sharma (Chhamb):** A senior Congress leader, he was denied a ticket after the party opted for Tara Chand, who had previously left Congress to support Ghulam Nabi Azad. Sharma is leading by 6800 votes.
* **Choudhary Mohammad Akram (Surankote):** A Congress MLA who was denied a ticket, he is currently leading by 8851 votes.
* **Pyare Lal Sharma (Inderwal):** An independent candidate who defeated another independent contender, he secured victory by 643 votes.
* **Dr. Rameshwar Singh (Bani):** A doctor-turned-politician, he defeated the BJP candidate by 2048 votes.
* **Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh (Langate):** Brother of jailed AIP leader Engineer Rashid, he is leading by 2812 votes.

The rise of independent candidates has added a layer of complexity to the already tight election race. It remains to be seen whether this trend will translate into a significant shift in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.

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