Three former members of the banned outfit Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday filed their nomination papers from various constituencies of South Kashmir, for the upcoming J&K Assembly elections.

These Jamaat-e-Islami nominees include Dr Talat Majeed, Sayar Ahmad Reshi, and Nazir Ahmad, who filed their nominations on the last day ahead of the first phase of polls.

The Jamaat is also backing another Independent candidate Umar Hamid in this phase, even though he had not been its member.

As the Jamaat is banned from taking part in the elections, the socio-political organisation has decided to field its ex-members in the Assembly polls as Independents.

Of the 24 seats that would go to polls in the first phase on September 18, 16 are from Kashmir, all in its southern belt, and 8 are from the Jammu region.

Dr Talat Majeed is contesting as an Independent from the Pulwama constituency.

A former rukn (registered member) of the Jamaat, 47-year-old Majeed is a resident of Pulwama, who is said to be “well-regarded” in local social circles. He became the first Jamaat face to enter mainstream politics in 2023, when he surprised many by joining the Altaf Bukhari-led Apni Party.

Majeed, who has a doctorate in soil sciences, resigned from his government job as an “agrilcuture extension assistant” in 2023 to join politics.

“I was the first Jamaat leader, who advised its leadership to contest Assembly elections in 2014,” Majeed told The Indian Express. “I always had apprehensions that Jamaat would be banned and have been telling them (leadership) that we can’t ignore the geopolitical scenario and should come into the mainstream.”

Majeed said his first priority is to “save the youth of Kashmir”. “We can’t let them to be used as cannon fodder. I would also focus on economy and education,” he said. “My second priority would be to seek revocation of ban on Jamaat-e-Islami.”

Another former Jamaat member Sayar Ahmad Reshi has filed his nomination as an Independent from the Kulgam seat. Reshi, 42, has an MPhil in Political Sciences, who worked in the Jamaat-affiliated Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) – a trust that runs hundreds of schools across J&K – as a district head.

In February this year, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided Reshi’s house in Kulgam in an alleged Jamaat terror funding case.

The Jamaat is also backing 27-year-old Umar Hamid, a resident of Manihal village in Imam Sahib, in the first phase. He has filed his nomination as an Independent from the Zainpora seat in Shopian.

Hamid, who has an MA degree in Islamic Studies and Political Sciences, was never affiliated to the Jamaat-e-Islami, though. “If Jamaat wants to support me, I would welcome it. For a candidate, vote is the most important thing,” Hamid said.

“The Jamaat has said they will support any candidate that they feel is deserving. It is their decision.”

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, the first since 2014, will be held in three phases-September 18, September 25, and October 1.

The results will be announced on October 4.