PDP nominates Lone for J

Srinagar, July 18 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party, a key ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir, has nominated senior leader Ghulam Nabi Lone for the post of the Legislative Council chairman.

In her communication to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti formally proposed the name of Mr Lone as a joint coalition candidate for the post of the Legislative Council chairman, the elections for which are scheduled for July 20.

The post fell vacant after the retirement of Mr Abdul Rashid Dar from the Legislative Council on March 10 this year.

Mr Lone emerged as the front-runner for the coveted post at the PDP's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting, presided over by party patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.

Senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig proposed the name of Mr Lone, which was later unanimously ratified by the PAC. Immediately after the meeting, Ms Mufti rushed a communication to Mr Azad, proposing Mr Lone's name for the post of the Council chairman.

A law graduate, Mr Lone was elected to the Legislative Council in March 2003 after being defeated by National Conference (NC) leader Abdul Rahim Rather from Charar-e-Sharief constituency in Budgam district by a margin of about 1000 votes in the 2002 assembly polls.

Mr Lone had also unsuccessfully contested the 2004 Parliament elections from Srinagar-Budgam constituency against NC president Omar Abdullah.

UNI