PDP candidates trailing in two; up in one constituency in Kashmir

Baramulla, Apr 27 (UNI) Former minister Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari and another Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Javid Hussain Baig are trailing in Pattan and Sangrama respectively while National Conference (NC) candidate was behind in Rafiabad Assembly constituency, where bypoll was held on April 24.

A UNI correspondent present in the counting hall said in Pattan Assembly constituency, the NC candidate Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, brother of former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah got 12403 votes against his nearest PDP rival Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari's 3264 at the end of the third round.

In Sangrama constituency, the PDP candidate Javid Hussain Baig, nephew of Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig got just 520 votes against Shoib Lone's 4284 at the end of the first round.

However, it was neck and neck in the Rafiabad where former minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir was ahead by 1101 votes against his NC rival.

Mr Mir got 6372 votes while his rival and NC candidate Mohammad Maqbool Mir got 5271 votes at the end of second round of counting.

The counting hall said the counting started exactly at 0800 hours in the heavily guarded Degree college smoothly in the presence of representatives of all contesting candidates.

Initially, the migrant votes were taken up for counting in all these constituencies.

Officials said all the 293 migrants votes in Rafiabad constituency has gone in favour of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mr Mir, seeking re-election from the seat.

In Pattan four each migrant votes went in favour of PDP candidate Moulvi Ansari and National Conference (NC) Advocate Mir.

However, all the 79 votes were polled in favour of Independent candidate Shoib Lone in Sangrama constituency, officials said.

Despite x x x picking up from para seven of DR 10, Election- Kashmir-Counting.

UNI XC/BAS HS HS1153