Shri Tara Chand, Deputy Chief Minister : Born at Chak Malal, Chhamb on April 25, 1963, Mr. Tara Chand was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the year 1996 from Chhamb constituency. He was again elected from the same constituency in the year 2002 and 2008. He was elected Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly in the year 2002.

Mr. A. R. Rather: Born at Badipora, in Chadoora tehsil, Mr. A. R. Rather is M.A. L.L.B. with Diploma in Public Administration. He practiced at the Bar from 1971 to 1982.

He was elected to the Legislative Assembly from Charar-e-Sharief constituency in 1977 and since then has continuously retained this seat in 1983, 1987, 1996, 2002 and 2008 elections.

Mr. Rather served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly as well as Minister holding the portfolios of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition in the previous Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Rather polled 24,579 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Lone, by a margin of 6,375 votes.

Pirzada Mohd. Sayeed:- Born on August 20, 1953, at Damhal, Kokernag, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed is a Law graduate. He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Kokernag constituency in the year 1987 and inducted as Minister of State in 1988. He again won from the same constituency in the year 2002. He was also a cabinet minister in the previous Government.

Peerzada polled 13,384 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Ms. Sehar Iqbal, by a margin of 4,161 votes.

Mr.Ali Mohd. Sagar: A postgraduate with honours in Law, Mr. Ali Mohammad Sagar was born in Srinagar on November 27, 1953. He was continuously elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1983, 1987, 1996, 2002 and 2008 elections from Khanyar Assembly constituency of Srinagar district. Mr. Sagar has served as a minister of state in 1989 and 1996 and later as a cabinet minister till 2002.

Mr. Sagar polled 6,313 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Showkat Ahmed Hafiz, by a margin of 5,507 votes.

Mian Altaf Ahmed: A Law graduate from University of Kashmir, Mian Altaf Ahmad was born at Kangan in 1958. He has been continuously elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1987, 1996, 2002 and 2008 from Kangan Assembly constituency. He served as cabinet minister in the Dr. Farooq Abdullah ministry.

Mr. Altaf polled 19,210 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Bashir Ahmad Mir, by a margin of 7,715 votes.

Mr. Taj Mohi-ud-Din- Born on December 9, 1944, Mr. Taj Mohi-ud-Din is a postgraduate. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the year 2002 from Uri constituency of Baramulla district and became a minister. He has again won from the same constituency in the 2008 Assembly elections. He joined Congress Party in 1986.

Mr. Taj polled 24,036 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Mohammed Shafi, by a margin of 1,879 votes.

Mr. Nawang Rigzin:- Born on February 2, 1958 in Nimmu village of Leh, a graduate from St. Stephen's College, New Delhi, Mr. Rigzin was elected unopposed to the Legislative Assembly in the year 2002 from Leh constituency and became a minister in the Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Governments. He has been elected from the same constituency for the second time consecutively.

Mr. Rigzin polled 19,008 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Thupstan Chhewang, by a margin of 1,523 votes.

Mr. Surjit Singh Slathia:- Born on September 10, 1954, at Gurah Slathia, Mr. Slathia was first elected to the State Assembly in the year 1996 from Vijaypur constituency and served as minister of state and cabinet minister in the Dr. Farooq Abdullah-led ministry. He has been again elected from the same constituency in the 2008 Assembly elections.

Mr. Slathia polled 21,090 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Chander Parkash, by a margin of 1,212 votes.

Mr. Sham Lal Sharma:- Born in village Plattan, in Akhnoor tehsil on December 15, 1959, he was first elected to the Legislative Assembly from Akhnoor constituency in a bye-election in 2004. A graduate in Pharmacy, he served in Police and health departments before joining politics in 1998, after resigning from government service. He has been again elected from the same constituency in the just-concluded Assembly elections.

Mr. Sharma polled 31,600 votes in the J&K Assembly Elections 2008 and defeated his nearest rival, Mr. Govind Ram Sharma, by a margin of 13,884 votes.