The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) is a regional political party in Indian-administered Kashmir's union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Founded as the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference by Sheikh Abdullah and Chaudhry Ghulam Abbas in 1932 in the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir,the organisation renamed itself to "National Conference" in 1939 in order to represent all the people of the state. It supported the accession of the princely state to India in 1947. Prior to that,in 1941,a group led by Ghulam Abbas broke off from the National Conference and revived the old Muslim Conference. The revived Muslim Conference supported the accession of the princely state to Pakistan and led the movement for Azad Kashmir.
Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was an Indian politician who served twice as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir,during November 2002–November 2005 and March 2015–January 2016. He was also Minister of Tourism in Rajiv Gandhi's cabinet and Home Minister of India in V. P. Singh's cabinet. He started in the wing of the National Conference led by G. M. Sadiq,which later merged into the Indian National Congress. He switched to Janata Dal in 1987,eventually founding his own regional party,People's Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP continues to be a political force in Jammu and Kashmir,currently led by his daughter Mehbooba Mufti.
Mehbooba Mufti Sayed is an Indian politician and leader of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP),who served as the 9th Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 4 April 2016 to 19 June 2018. She was the first female chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. After the revocation of Article 370 of the constitution in August 2019,Mufti was detained without any charges at first and later under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act.
Ghulam Nabi Azad is an Indian politician who served as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha between 2014 and 2021. He also served as the Chief Minister of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008. On 26 September 2022,Azad announced his own political party as Democratic Progressive Azad Party. He is the chief patron cum founder of Democratic Progressive Azad Party.
The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a state political party in Jammu and Kashmir,India. The PDP was headed and founded by Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. His daughter,Mehbooba Mufti,succeeded him as party leader and as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir following his death in January 2016. The party is a member of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration electoral alliance. The party is also a member of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance since its founding on 18 June 2023.
Yasin Malik is a Kashmiri separatist leader and former militant who advocates the separation of Kashmir from both India and Pakistan. He is the Chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front,which originally spearheaded armed militancy in the Kashmir Valley. Malik renounced violence in 1994 and adopted peaceful methods to come to a settlement of the Kashmir conflict. In May 2022,Malik pleaded guilty to charges of criminal conspiracy and waging war against the state,and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Mohammad Yusuf Shah,commonly known as Syed Salahuddin,is the head of Hizbul Mujahideen,an organization operating in Kashmir. He also heads the United Jihad Council,a Pakistan-based conglomeration of jihadist militant groups sponsored by the ISI,with the goal of merging Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan.
Tara Chand is a politician and Dalit leader from Jammu and Kashmir. He was Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2014. He had earlier served as the Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. On 30 August 2022,he resigned from Indian National Congress in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad. He was appointed as Vice chairperson for Democratic Azad Party. On 22 December 2022,he was removed from Democratic Azad Party after the allegations of 'anti-party'activities.
The 2014 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election was held in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir in five phases from 25 November –20 December 2014. Voters elected 87 members to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly,which ends its six-year term on 19 January 2020. The results were declared on 23 December 2014. Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) along with EVMs were used in 3 assembly seats out of 87 in Jammu Kashmir elections.
Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh is an Indian politician and was the last Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State. He is a former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He is a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. On 1 March 2015,he assumed the charge of the Minister for Power Development and Housing and Urban Development.
Ghulam Nabi Lone (Hanjura) is an Indian politician and former cabinet minister of Jammu and Kashmir,belonging to the Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party. An Advocate by profession,Lone was part of the 12th Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Charari Sharief constituency.
Aijaz Ahmad Khan popularly known as Aijaz Saab or Sher-e-Gool Gulabgarh is an Indian politician and was a member of the 10th,11th and 12th Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Gool Arnas constituency. He served as Minister of various portfolios from 2002 to 2014 in Jammu and Kashmir Govt under the Chief Ministership of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah. He also served as Deputy Leader of Congress Legislative Party from 2014 to 2018 He left Congress and became founding member of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) formed on 8 March 2020. He is also currently the Vice President of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party. He is also the Vice President of PAC and member CWC of Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party.
Gharu Ram Bhagat is an Indian politician from Jammu and Kashmir and member of Democratic Azad Party. Bhagat was a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from the Ranbir Singhpura constituency in Jammu district. He was affiliated with Bhartiya Janata Party until 2016. In 2016,he joined Indian National Congress. On 30 August 2022,he resigned from Congress in support of Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari is an Indian politician hailing from Jammu and Kashmir. He is the president of the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party,a political organization,which he launched in 2020. He served as the Member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from 2015 to 2018,representing the Amira Kadal Assembly constituency. He served as the education minister of Jammu and Kashmir and later assumed the additional responsibility of the Finance,Labour and Employment ministry.
Bhalessa is a geographical area within Doda district in the Jammu region of India-administered Kashmir. It consists of the Bunjwah and Bhalessa Valleys,and comprises the three Tehsils of Kahara,Chilly Pingal and Gandoh.
Peer Mohammed Hussain Soharvardi is a Kashmiri politician and former Minister of State in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He served as Member of Legislative Assembly (2002-2008) after being elected from the Shangus assembly constituency. He,subsequently,also served as Vice Chairman of the J&K Muslim Wakf Board.
Taj Mohiuddin is a politician from Jammu and Kashmir and member of Democratic Azad Party. On 3 October 2022,Din was appointed as Treasurer for Democratic Azad Party. Din was the member of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly from Uri Assembly constituency during 2002-2008 and 2008-2014 as Indian National Congress candidate.
Rajinder Singh Chib is an Indian politician and former Indian Air Force officer. He is a member of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party. Chib served as Cabinet Minister of Health,Tourism,Medical Education and Environment in the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet from 1986 to 1990 and was reappointed as cabinet Minister of Technical Education,Medical Education and Youth Affairs and Sports from 2009 to 2014. On 3 October 2022,Chib was appointed as General Secretary for Democratic Azad Party.
