SRINAGAR — In a major development for the political landscape of the Union Territory, the Jammu and Kashmir National Democratic Party (JKNDP) has officially been registered as a political party by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The registration has been formalized under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, carrying the official ECI File No. 298/09/2026Under Registration 2026/PPS-I.
The formal recognition grants the newly registered entity the legal framework to contest upcoming local, assembly, and parliamentary elections across the region under a unified political banner.
Headquartered in Washbugh (near the DC Office), Pulwama, the JKNDP has positioned its core political philosophy around decentralization, anti-corruption, and local empowerment. Speaking on the occasion of the ECI registration clearance, Party President Shri Asif Nabi Dar emphasized that the recognition marks the birth of an alternative political voice committed to institutional accountability.
“Our formal registration with the Election Commission of India under the designated case registry is a victory for the common citizens of Jammu and Kashmir who seek transparent governance. True democracy thrives when power is decentralized, and our primary focus will remain on strengthening local self-governance through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs),” Dar stated.
According to the party’s official framework submitted to the Commission, the JKNDP plans to mobilize its base across both provinces by emphasizing a multi-sectoral development agenda.
Local Autonomy: Advocating for the direct devolution of funds, functions, and functionaries to local bodies.
Youth & Employment: Expanding employment avenues and engaging the region’s youth in digital advocacy and community leadership.
Policy Transparency: Implementing stringent internal anti-corruption metrics and encouraging civic participation via social audits.
The party’s leadership, which includes Vice President Ishtiyaq Ahmad Sheikh alongside an expanded legal advisory council operating in Srinagar and the Supreme Court, has already begun setting up district executive bodies to solidify its ground-level organizational structure.
With this legislative clearance and file finalization from the ECI, the JKNDP joins the political arena at a crucial juncture, vowing to shift the traditional political discourse in Jammu and Kashmir toward a focus on administrative delivery, public welfare, and economic equity.