Mufti not in Lok Sabha race

The Peoples Democratic Party PDP has decided not to field its patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in the Lok Sabha elections. In a meeting,legislators and candidates of the PDP turned down a proposal to field Mufti from the Anantnag parliamentary constituency,as they believe he should continue to lead the party in the state,where the PDP emerged as the single-largest Opposition in the last Assembly elections. The decision is likely to help the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition gain an edge in Anantnag,a PDP bastion. Party president Mehbooba Mufti,incidentally,was elected from here during the Lok Sabha polls.

PDP leaders have now empowered Mehbooba Mufti to decide among former agriculture minister Abdul Aziz Zargar and former minister Peer Mohammad Hussain for the Anantnag parliamentary seat. “The party has decided not to field the PDP patron from the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat. For the Baramulla seat,there is only the name of Dilawar Mir which is under the consideration of the party,” said PDP general secretary Nizamudin Bhat.

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The PDP is holding a meeting of legislators and its contesting candidates on April 5 to decide on the candidate for the Srinagar parliamentary seat. While PDP leaders G N Lone,Tariq Hameed Qarra and Saifudin Bhat have been shortlisted,sources say that Shia leader Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari is also under consideration.

With the PDP deciding not to field Mufti Mohammad Sayeed,the NC-Congress coalition is likely to decide on the names of its candidates on the four parliamentary seats,including Ladakh,in the next few days.

The ruling coalition has decided to field Madan Lal Sharma and Lal Singh from Jammu and Udhampur LS seats respectively. Former chief minister and NC president,Farooq Abdullah,said,We will finalise the list of candidates in a few days.