Srinagar, In a highly anticipated political battle, 107 candidates including 51 independents are set to contest across the seven assembly constituencies in north Kashmir, with several prominent figures entering the race.
Details according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) revealed that in Sopore assembly constituency, a total of 22 candidates are in fray including 14 independents.
The contesting candidates include National Conference’s Irshad Rasool Kar, Abdul Rashid Dar of Indian Nation Congress, Irfan Ali Lone of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Apni Party’s Ghulam Mohammed War and Mohammad Lateef Dand, an independent and others.
In Baramulla, 25 candidates are in fray, which include 15 independents and 10 of those, who are associated with different political parties.
The main contenders are Javaid Hassan Beigh of National Conference, Mohammad Rafique Rather of Peoples Democratic Party, Mir Iqbal Ahmed of Congress and Asif Akbar Lone of Peoples Conference.
Similarly, in Pattan assembly constituency, a total of 14 candidates have filed their nomination papers while 10 among them are associated with different parties and four others are independents. The main contenders are Peoples Conference’s Imran Raza Ansari, Javaid Riyaz Bedar of National Conference and Reyaz Ahmed Sheikh of Apni Party.
In Rafiabad constituency, 12 candidates are in the fray, with eight associated with different parties and four independents. The main contenders are Javid Ahmed Dar of National Conference, Yawer Mir of Apni Party and Abdul Gani Vakil of Peoples Conference.
In Wagoora-Kreeri assembly constituency, a total number of candidates in fray are 13, with nine party affiliates and four independents. The main contenders are Irfan Hafiz Lone of Indian National Congress, Peoples Democratic Party’s Syed Basharat Bukhari and Naseer Ahmed Rather an independent candidate backed by AIP.
In Gulmarg constituency, 14 candidates are in fray, while eight belong to parties besides six independents.
In Uri, a total number of seven candidates are in fray, with four independents and three from different parties. Sajjad Shafi of National Conference, Dr Bashir Ahmed Chalkoo of Peoples Conference, Sheikh Muneeb of Peoples Democratic Party, besides Taj Mohi ud Din are the main contenders.
A total number of nine nomination papers have been rejected—