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Omar gives up Ganderbal seat, to contest from Sonawar and Beerwah

Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has decided not to contest from his traditional seat of Ganderbal for the coming assembly elections. Abdullah’s party — National Conference — has decided that he would contest from Sonawar in Srinagar and Beerwah in central Kashmir.

Updated on: Nov 1, 2014, 11:58:32 IST
BBC | By , Srinagar
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Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah has decided not to contest from his traditional seat of Ganderbal for the coming assembly elections. Abdullah’s party — National Conference — has decided that he would contest from Sonawar in Srinagar and Beerwah in central Kashmir.



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National Conference’s provincial president for Kashmir Nasir Aslam Wani said the decision was taken in a meeting of the party office bearers on Friday, “as supporters from Sonawar and Beerwah wanted Abdullah to contest from there’’.

NC has nominated Sheikh Mohammed Ashfaq from Ganderbal seat. He had contested against Abdullah in 2008 election on a Congress ticket. Abdullah lost the 2002 Assembly polls from Ganderbal to Qazi Mohammed Afzal of the People’s Democratic Party but regained the NC bastion again in 2008 assembly elections

Meanwhile, NC general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar announced the fourth list of 22 candidates for the assembly elections 2014 .

Earlier, NC had announced a list of 62 candidates.

Post drubbing in the assembly elections, political experts were of the opinion that the junior Abdullah is looking for a “safe” seats for the 2014 assembly elections. Ganderbal assembly segment saw People’s Democratic Party (PDP) take lead over NC in the Lok Sabha elections.

  • Toufiq Rashid
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Toufiq Rashid

    Chief of bureau of HT at Srinagar, Toufiq has been covering the volatile state of Kashmir for the past seven years. Was working as special correspondent in Indian Express in New Delhi, covering health and wellness. Has done human interest stories from across the country for almost a decade.Read More

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