SRINAGAR: Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday fielded veteran journalist Zafar Meraj from Habbakadal seat for the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
The PDP announced Meraj, who has been associated with various national and international media over the past four decades, as the candidate for the Habbakadal constituency in Srinagar district.
Meraj will take on National Conference’s candidate and incumbent MLA Shamima Firdous in the constituency, which has generally witnessed low voter turnout since the eruption of militancy in the State.
Habbakadal, which has a significant number of migrant Kashmiri Pandit voters who can be the deciding factor, is one of the five valley constituencies where BJP considers it has a significant chance of winning.
The BJP has fielded Moti Koul, a Kashmir Pandit, from Habbakadal, where polling will be held in the fourth phase of elections in the State on December 14.
Meanwhile, the PDP also announced Yawar Mir as its candidate for Rafiabad Assembly constituency in Baramulla district to replace his father Mohammad Dilawar Mir.
Dilawar Mir has withdrawn from the contest and resigned as party’s general secretary following his conviction by a CBI court earlier this month.
