Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest elections in Jammu and Kashmir, announced party leader Imran Hussain on Wednesday. He also informed that if the party comes to power it will give free electricity and excellent health facilities to the locals.

"AAP will fight elections in Jammu & Kashmir. If we form the government, then we will give free electricity and world-class health facilities to the public and set up Mohalla Clinics here. I appeal to the people of J&K to give a chance to Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal," said Hussain.

On Tuesday, the Election Commission announced the commencement of the nomination process for the first phase of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. In the first phase of legislative assembly elections, voting will be held on 24 seats in the Union Territory on September 18.

Earlier in the day, the Apni Party released its manifesto in which it promised to maintain the culture and special identity of Jammu and Kashmir and to put pressure on the Center for constitutional guarantee. The promises made by the Apni Party include restoration of Legislative Council, casual employees employed in all government departments, regularisation of contractual and daily wage earners, an increase in disabled, old age and widow pension to Rs 5,000 per month, return of displaced Kashmiri Hindus to Kashmir, and amnesty for youths arrested for the first time on charges of stone pelting and separatist activities.

Notably, the seats, that will go to polls in the first phase, are Pampore, Tral, Pulwama, Rajpora, Zainapora, Shopian, D H Pora, Kulgam, Devsar, Dooru, Kokernag (ST), Anantnag West, Anantnag, Srigufwara-Bijbehara, Shangus-Anantnag East, Pahalgam, Inderwal, Kishtwar, Padder-Nagseni, Bhadarwah, Doda, Doda West, Ramban, and Banihal.

The deadline for submitting nominations for the first phase of the assembly elections is August 27, with scrutiny scheduled for August 28. Candidates have until August 30 to withdraw their nominations.

The Election Commission announced the election schedule for Jammu and Kashmir on August 16. The polling will be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1.

A total of 90 assembly constituencies will go to the polls in Jammu and Kashmir. The last assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir was held in 2014.

(With inputs from ANI)