The BJP has announced that it will not field candidates in eight of the 24 seats up for election in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir’s Assembly polls. The decision affects seats in South Kashmir, including Tral, Pulwama, Zainapora, DH Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, and Pahalgam.

For the upcoming elections, the BJP has nominated candidates for 16 of the 24 seats in the first phase, with polling scheduled for September 18. The party’s revised candidate list follows the withdrawal of an earlier list of 44 candidates on August 26. This election, the first since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, is seen as a significant test for the BJP as it faces competition from a rejuvenated Congress, which has allied with the National Conference. The results will be announced on October 8