Kupwara, Sep 12 (KNO): Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Thursday filed nomination papers from Handwara and Kupwara assembly segments.
As per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), accompanied by hundreds of workers and senior party leaders, Lone was taken out in a procession from his residence here this morning to the office of Returning Officer for Handwara segment where he filed his nomination papers.
Lone’s Peoples Conference has maintained a strong grip over the Handwara assembly segment for more than a decade now. In 2014 assembly polls, Lone defeated the National Conference candidate by more than 5000 votes. In 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PC secured a lead of 8000 over NC. In 2024 polls, NC was pushed to the third position in the segment with PC securing a lead of more than 7000 over it.
Later, in the afternoon, Sajad Lone filed nomination papers for the Kupwara segment. Lone’s decision to contest from Kupwara has set the stage for an intense electoral battle between him and Nasir Aslam Wani of National Conference. The other candidates in the fray include Firdous Baba(AIP) and Fayaz Ahmad Mir( PDP). In 2024 LS polls, Mir, who was PDP candidate from Baramulla segment, forfeited deposit and stood 4th in Kupwara assembly segment—(KNO)