STATE TIMES NEWS
Former NC man fielded in Omar’s constituency
SRINAGAR: After the Election Commission of India’s announcement to hold assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, present partner in coalition, Congress, Wednesday released list of fifteen candidates for the first phase of elections. The list was released by Madhusudan Mistry, General Secretary, in charge CEC who according to spokesman have nod from the central election committee.
The candidates are Faqir Mohammad Khan from Gurez, Usman Majeed from Bandipora, Imtiyaz Parray from Sonawari, Aijaz Ahmad Sheikh from Kangan, Muhammad Yusuf Bhat from Ganderbal, Dildan Namgyal from Nobra, Rigzin Jora from Leh, Ashgar Karbalai from Kargil, Gulam Raza from Zanskar, Nek Ram from Kishtwar, G.M.Saroori from Inderwal, Abdul Majeed Wani from Doda, Mohamad Sharief Niyaz from Baderwah, Ashok Kumar Dogra from Ramban and Viqar Rasool from Banihal.
Pertinently Mohammad Yousuf Bhat is former National Conference worker who was in news a couple of years ago after the death of another NC worker Syed Yousuf in police custody. Bhat hails from the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s constituency, Ganderbal.
Meanwhile, asserting that Congress will fight all the 87 seats in Jammu and Kashmir, AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni has said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi will be star campaigners for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state.
“We are fighting all the seats again hoping to form the government in the state,” Soni said.
She further said that Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be star campaigners during the campaigning of the five-phased elections in the state.
“We have requested Sonia, Rahul and Dr Singh in this regard on the sidelines of a meeting held today,” she said.
“Normally we will provide a list of 40 star campaigners to the Election Commission,” Soni said.
On the issue of release of the party manifesto, she said draft of the manifesto has been prepared and submitted to the top party leadership in this direction.
After the consultation with state Congress chief, manifesto will be released in three different places, including Srinagar and Ladakh, Soni said.
Regarding the poll plank, she said Congress will go to the people with their report card on development, accountability, governance of our government which was in power since 2002 with coalition partners.
The manifesto and the poll campaign would be based on achievements of our government which remained in power during the coalition governments of 2002 and 2008, she said.
Polling will take place on November 25, December 2, 9, 14 and 20 in the state.
