NC president file papers from Ganderbal constituency

Srinagar, Nov 3 (UNI) National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah today filed his nomination papers from Ganderbal Assembly segment, where Governor N N Vohra held a meeting with officials for holding free and fair elections in the constituency.

In 2002, Mr Omar, who was the Chief Ministerial candidate of the NC, lost to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Qazi Mohammad Afzal by a margin 2870 votes.

Mr Omar filed his papers in the District Election Office (DEO), Ganderbal, in presence of a large number of NC leaders and supporters today.

The Assembly segment was a strong hold of the NC before Mr Omar was defeated in last polls.

After the NC started participating in the elections in the state from 1977 following Indira-Sheikh accord in 1975, the seat was represented by Mr Omar's grandfather Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1977, who had scored 26,162 votes against his rival who could muster just 3509 votes.

Later, the seat was represented by Mr Omar's father Farooq Abdullah since 1983 before he paved way for Mr Omar to contest from the constituency.

The PDP has already announced the candidature of Mr Afzal from the constituency.

The last date of filing nomination papers is November five and scrutiny will be held next date and last date of withdrawal will be November eight.

The elections in the constituency, along with Kangan and four other Assembly segments, would be held in the second phase on November 23.

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