NC heavyweights Rana & Sadhotra file nomination

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah charged the Congress and the BJP with fooling the people. “Our contest is with parties which have nothing to do with truth and reality,” he said. He said Congress leaders were praising the NC six months back. “The leaders are holding NC leaders responsible for every bad decision,” he said. He claimed that the BJP had taken a U-turn after the General Election. “They had said Article 370 would be abrogated. They now say they will pick guns if Article 370 is touched,” Omar said.

Tribune News Service

Marh/Nagrota, December 3

National Conference (NC) veteran Devender Singh Rana filed his nomination papers in Nagrota on Wednesday. His party colleague Ajay Sadhotra filed his papers from Marh in Jammu district.

Polling in both constituencies will be held on December 20 along other 18 constituencies in Jammu, Rajouri and Kathua districts.

Addressing supporters Rana challenged rivals to put up a fight and claimed that the NC would emerge victorious in the entire state.

“There is only one lion in the state who is Omar Abdullah. He will be the Chief Minister again,” Rana said. He had never contested any Assembly election so far.

An associate of Omar, Rana was political adviser to the Chief Minister before he was given charge of party affairs in the Jammu region.

He said Omar is lucky for him. “I tasted victory ever since you came into my life. The day is not far when I will win from Nagrota,” Rana said.

Omar took a flight to Jammu on Wednesday morning to accompany Rana and Sadhotra. Rana gave credit to Omar for development works in Nagrota.

Omar accompanied Sadhotra to the office of the returning officer in Marh. Sadhotra had lost in 2008. He had been elected to the council and made Minister for Planning and Development.