Choudhary Aslam wins RS seat from J

Srinagar, June 15 (UNI) Choudhary Mohammad Aslam, the consensus candidate of the ruling coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir, was declared elected to the Rajya Sabha seat from the state, elections for which were held today.

Choudhary Aslam of the Congress defeated National Conference (NC) candidate Mohammad Yousuf Taing by 33 votes.

While the Congress candidate polled 58 votes, Mr Taing could manage only 25. Four legislators, including Mohammad Shafi Bhat of the Congress, boycotted the voting.

Mr Bhat had been served a notice by the Congress for defying party whip and campaigning in support of the NC candidate in the April 24 Assembly by-elections in three seats of Pattan, Sangrama and Rafiabad in the Baramulla district.

Choudhary Aslam had the support of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the National Panthers Party (NPP), the Peoples Democratic Forum (PDF), the CPI(M) and several independents.

The seat had fallen vacant due to the resignation of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad who contested and won the by-elections from Bhaderwah Assembly constituency on April 24.

Besides Mr Aslam and Mr Taing, independent candidate Mohammad Hassan Parray had also filed his nomination papers from the seat.

However, his papers were rejected after scrutiny leaving Mr Aslam and Mr Taing in the fray.

UNI BAS PA ND1804