Former IAS officer Shah Faisal, who cast aspersion on his previous employer to get into the right side of state politics, might face a lot of competition as the J&K's political space may get increasingly crowded.

 

Hard on the heels of Faisal's resignation, Syed Towqeer, Principal and Sessions Judge, Anantnag requested the Registrar General of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court seeking voluntary retirement.

 

Although Towqeer reportedly cited personal reasons, it is speculated that he may probably contest the assembly elections from South Kashmir’s Kokernag assembly seat and will be joining the National Conference in coming days.

 

Another senior judge who hails from north Kashmir and is currently living in Srinagar is also planning to enter politics and may probably contest from Baramulla constituency on a National Conference ticket.

 

Last month, former SSP Srinagar Riyaz Bedar who hails from north Kashmir’s Pattan settled in Srinagar joined the National Conference. He may contest the elections from Pattan against former minister and senior Peoples Conference leader Imran Reza Ansari.

There have also been speculations of another bureaucrat Asghar Ali seeking retirement to join politics.

 

Raja Ajaz Ali former Inspector General of Police (Crime), who joined the PDP ahead of the 2014 elections and contested assembly polls from Uri, recently resigned from the party and joined the Peoples Conference of Sajjad Lone. He is likely to contest from Uri assembly constituency.