Nine candidates in fray for eight J

Jammu, Feb 22 (UNI) Nine candidates are in the fray for eight Jammu and Kashmir legislative council seats after scrutiny of nomination papers today.

''Thirteen candidates had filed their nominations and while papers of nine have been found in order, the nomination papers of four Independents have been rejected after scrutiny,'' Secretary Legislative Assembly and Returning Officer Mohammad Iqbal Ganai said.

The 13 candidates include four members from the Congress, two from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and three from the National Conference, he said.

The papers of the four Independents -- Fayaz Ahmed Ganai, Om Parkash Talwar Advocate, Haji Mohammad Din and Dr Hasrat Hussain -- were rejected as they were not complete, he added.

The last date of withdrawal of papers is February 24 and elections if necessary would be held on March 5, 2007.

UNI