The Congress Party has decided to focus on 20 seats in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, leaving the majority of the seats to its alliance partner, the National Conference.
The strategic decision was made during the initial meeting of the party's Central Election Committee, chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday, which was also attended by former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and party veteran Ambika Soni.
During the meeting, nine seats were reviewed, and five candidates were approved.
Notable candidates include former J&K Congress chief and ex-Dooru MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir, former state unit president Vikar Rasool from Banihal, and Pradeep Bhagat from the Jammu division. The names of two additional candidates were not disclosed by the Committee.
The committee has also agreed to allocate one seat to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the Valley.
Former minister Salman Khurshid has been given the task of finalising seat-sharing and alliance strategies with the National Conference and the CPI(M) for the three-phase elections.
Although the Congress is currently targeting 20 seats, this number may change as discussions with the National Conference continue.
The Committee discussed nine seats in total and has approved five candidates so far.
Members of the J&K Congress screening committee are scheduled to arrive in Srinagar on Saturday for a meeting at 2 pm.
Khurshid is also expected to visit Jammu and Kashmir shortly.