SRINAGAR: Mehbooba Mufti, the President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has announced her candidacy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, poised to witness a significant electoral battle in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mufti will face formidable opponents including DPAP President and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Conference nominee and influential Gujjar leader Mian Altaf Ahmad, and Pahari representative from the Apni Party, Zaffar Iqbal Manhas. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has yet to disclose its candidate for the constituency.
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PDP Parliamentary Board Chief Sartaj Madni unveiled the party’s candidates for the three Kashmir seats. Waheed Parra, the President of the party’s youth wing, will compete for the Srinagar seat, while former Rajya Sabha member Fayaz Mir will contest from Baramulla.
Mufti emphasized the significance of the Southern Parliamentary constituency, indicating New Delhi’s prioritization of the region’s affairs. She affirmed her party’s support for the Congress on two seats in the Jammu region, stressing the importance of advocating for the people of Jammu and Kashmir in Parliament.
Additionally, Mufti highlighted her party’s endorsement of the INDIA bloc, underscoring the need to address the country’s current challenges, including constitutional violations and minority issues.
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Expressing disappointment over the lack of consultation from the National Conference regarding contesting all three seats, Mufti urged unity and collaboration to address the difficulties faced by the people of Regarding her party’s stance on the Congress party’s manifesto, Mufti praised it as the most promising in the past 70 years, focusing on achievable goals.
When asked about campaigning for the INDIA bloc outside Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti expressed reluctance, prioritizing efforts to strengthen the alliance within the state. Concerning BJP leader Tarun Chugh’s meetings with other party leaders, Mufti pointed out the absence of Ghulam Nabi Azad from the count.
