Shia leader among two named by Lone party

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 11

The Peoples Conference (PC) led by separatist-turned-politician Sajad Gani Lone is the first political party in Jammu and Kashmir to announce candidates for the Lok Sabha elections.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Raja Aijaz Ali will contest from the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat, whereas Shia leader Irfan Reza Ansari will be the candidate from Srinagar..

Party spokesperson said the Central Election Committee, which met under the chairmanship of Lone, announced the names of candidates on Monday. Raja Aijaz Ali had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Assembly elections from Uri, while businessman Irfan Reza Ansari is younger brother of former PDP leader Imran Reza Ansari. The brothers had joined the Peoples Conference soon after Governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the state Assembly in November last year.

“The Peoples Conference will be a breath of fresh air in comparison with the status-quo politics of National Conference and the PDP,” the spokesperson said.

“We will serve the people with earnest dedication and work hard towards real empowerment of the masses especially economic empowerment. It is our commitment to improve opportunities for the youth and reverse decades of anti-youth policies adopted by successive NC-PDP governments,” he added.