Srinagar- Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Tuesday announced that the party will contest the upcoming Assembly bye-elections from both Nagrota and Budgam constituencies independently.

Speaking to reporters after a key meeting with provincial leaders at the party's Jammu office in Gandhi Nagar, Bukhari said that the candidates' names will be finalised and announced after the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting in Srinagar.

“Our Jammu organisation has finalised the candidates. We will announce the names tomorrow. We are neither supporting anyone nor taking support from anyone,” he said, emphasizing the party's independent stand.

Bukhari took a dig at the ruling National Conference (NC) government and the BJP-led Central Government, accusing them of failing to deliver on promises. He highlighted issues like lack of development, absence of social welfare schemes, rising unemployment, and non-release of jailed youth, adding that the prolonged closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway had caused significant losses to fruit growers in Kashmir.

“The people have lost faith as NC and BJP have failed to fulfil their commitments. Statehood is crucial; otherwise, why are there 29 states in India?” Bukhari said, reiterating the party's demand for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

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