Sajad Lone to contest from two seats in north Kashmir

The Peoples Conference on Friday said party chief Sajad Lone would contest from two constituencies of Handwara and Kupwara in north Kashmir. The party on Friday released another list of seven more candidates for the last phase of Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to the list, Sajad Lone will contest from Handwara and Kupwara; Imran Reza Ansari from Pattan; Irfan Pandithpori from Langate; Dr Nasir Awan from Karnah, Mudasir Akbar Shah from Lolab and advocate Bashir Ahmad Dar from Trehgam.

The party issued the list following the Election Commission issuing a notification for the filing of nomination papers for the third phase of the elections.

During the 2014 assembly polls, Lone had won from the Handwara Assembly constituency. The seat is considered a stronghold of People’s Conference as Lone’s father had also won from the seat in the past.

In the recently held Lok Sabha polls, Sajad Lone, who lost to jailed Independent candidate Engineer Rashid from Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, had got the highest votes out of all candidates from the Handwara constituency.

In the party manifesto released on Thursday, People’s Conference has promised to fight for the restoration of Article 370, Article 35A, and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. The party also said it would encourage, support and facilitate any initiative aimed at peace building and conflict resolution which can lead to a durable resolution of Kashmir issue.