PDP announces candidates for three LS seats in Kashmir

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti will contest the Lok Sabha polls from the Anantnag-Rajouri seat against DPAP president Ghulam Nabi Azad, making the newly carved-out constituency the most high-profile contest in Jammu and Kashmir in these elections.

The National Conference has fielded influential Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad from the seat and the Apni Party has named Zaffar Iqbal Manhas.

The BJP has not announced its candidate so far.

PDP Parliamentary Board Chief Sartaj Madni said the party’s youth wing president Waheed Parra will contest the polls from Srinagar and former Rajya Sabha member Mir Fayaz from Baramulla.

The candidates were announced by the party at a press conference addressed by Mufti and Madni.

They said said the PDP will support the Congress in two Jammu region seats of Udhampur and Jammu.

Asked if the Congress will reciprocate in Kashmir, the PDP president said she was not extending support to the national party on quid pro quo basis.

“We have decided to support the Congress for the larger fight to save the Constitution and democracy.”

“But I would appeal to not only Congress workers but NC workers also to support me so that we can take the voice of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to Parliament,” she said.

“My appeal to all people of the constituency—from Anantnag to Rajouri and Poonch—is to come together as we are passing through a critical stage. People cannot talk. Talking has become a crime. If someone raises voice, he is labelled as anti-national,” she added.

On her party contesting against INDIA bloc partner National Conference, Mufti said she had left the ball in NC President Farooq Abdullah’s court.