NC likely to field Omar from Srinagar, Mian Altaf from Anantnag-Rajouri
MASROOR AHMAD
SRINAGAR: National Conference is likely to field Omar Abdullah from Srinagar-Budgam Lok Sabha segment and Mian Altaf from Anantnag- Rajouri seat.
Sources said that the party has almost finalized the candidature of Omar Abdullah and Mian Altaf from Srinagar and Anantnag- Rajouri segments, respectively. Whileas the party could field former minister Mir Saifullah or Choudhary Muhammad Ramzan or Aga Ruhullah from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat. National Conference vice-president and former CM Omar Abdullah has recently said that the party would announce its candidates for Lok Sabha polls after Eid. In the Srinagar segment, which includes eight seats of Srinagar district, three seats of Budgam, two seats of Ganderbal, four seats of Pulwama and one seat of Shopian, National Conference would be locked in a contest with Apni Party and other political parties. The Anantnag- Rajouri seat comprises seven segments of Anantnag district, three seats of Kulgam, one seat of Shopian district, four seats of Rajouri and three seats of Poonch. In Baramulla segment, the contest would be between arch-rivals National Conference and Peoples Conference.This segment is spread over seven seats of Baramulla, six of Kupwara, three of Bandipora and two of Budgam district.
Omar reiterated that the National Conference will announce its candidates as per its wish. He assertedhas the power to announce the names of candidates, possibly even on the last day of filing nominations.Stressing on adherence to party protocols, he stated that the National Conference leadership would deliberate and finalize candidates based on the prevailing political climate. In this political drama there was earlier reports that the former chief minister and president of DPAP could contest from the Anantnag seat and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti is also contemplating to contest from the segment as she has strong Political hold in some areas of South Kashmir, likeShopian and Bijbehara. On the other side DPAP,JK ApniParty and Peoples Conference are holding consultations for seat sharing. According to party sources that GN Azad is likely to contest from Anantnag- Rajouri Seat, AltafBhukhari from Srinagar and Sajad Lone form Baramulla seat. Earlier JK Apni Party spokesperson Rafi Mir had also indicated that like-minded parties may go to three seats of Kashmir division and talks are going on at party level and other sides in this regard.