Political dynasties dominate newly elected Jammu & Kashmir assembly

The recently concluded assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir have brought to the forefront a significant number of legislators from established political families, with at least 13 newly elected MLAs hailing from such backgrounds. The National Conference (NC), which emerged as the single largest party in the elections, leads in the number of candidates from political dynasties, further solidifying its influence in the region.
The NC, which fought the polls in an alliance with the Congress, is poised to form the government, with Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister-designate, representing the third generation of the influential Abdullah family. Both his father, Farooq Abdullah, and his grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah, have served as MLAs and as chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir.

Among the Congress leadership, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra stands out. Although his grandfather, Ghulam Mohiuddin Karra, never served as an MLA, he played a pivotal role in the National Conference before forming his own party in 1954. Tariq Karra, a former MLA and Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, resigned from the Parliament in 2016 in protest against the civilian killings during the summer unrest in the valley. Salman Sagar, considered one of the rising stars among second-generation politicians, has been elected from the Hazratbal seat. His father, Ali Mohammad Sagar, a senior NC leader, won a record seventh straight term in the assembly and will take a prominent place in the treasury benches.
Mian Altaf Ahmad, a significant figure in tribal politics and currently a Lok Sabha member from Anantnag-Rajouri, has passed the political mantle to his son, Mian Mehar Ali, who replaces him as the MLA from Kangan. Mian Altaf’s brother-in-law, Zafar Ali Khatana, was also elected to the assembly from Kokernag, a seat now reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates. Hilal Akbar Lone, son of former assembly speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone, continues his family’s political legacy, winning from the Sonawari seat. Mohammad Akbar Lone held this seat three times between 2002 and 2018. Other notable figures from political families include Tanvir Sadiq, NC chief spokesperson and son of former MLA Sadiq Ali, who won from Zadibal, and Sajjad Shafi Uri, son of former Education Minister Mohammad Shafi Uri, elected from Uri. In Sopore, Irshad Rasool Kar, son of veteran Congress leader Ghulam Rasool Kar, claimed the seat for the NC.

Further extending the dynastic reach, Bashir Ahmad Veeri, son of former Minister Abdul Gani Shah Veeri, won the Srigufwara-Bijbehara seat, while Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad, son of former MLC Sheikh Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, secured the Lal Chowk seat.

Outside the NC-Congress alliance, PDP MLA Rafeeq Ahmad Naik, son of former speaker Ali Mohammad Naik, won from Tral, while Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, brother of Lok Sabha member Sheikh Abdul Rashid, claimed victory in Langate.

The election results underscore the deep-rooted presence of political dynasties in Jammu and Kashmir, as many of these families continue to wield significant influence over the region’s political landscape.