Former PCC president Kar files papers against party candidate in J

Srinagar, Nov 12 (UNI) Without resigning from the party, former Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ghulam Rasool Kar filed his nomination papers as an independent candidate from Sopore constituency, a stronghold of the chairman of breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

''I have not resigned from the Congress as I remained associated with it for the past 50 years,'' Mr Kar said after filing the papers yesterday.

The constituency will go to the polls on December 7 in the fourth phase.

Mr Kar said he was pressed by the party workers to contest from the constituency after the party High Command fielded Abdul Rashid Dar, ignoring his claim.

The former PCC president who remained associated with the party even during the peak of militancy years, said that during the last elections, Dar polled just 2000 votes.

However, Mr Kar said, when the parliament election was held he polled about 11,000 votes more than what the rival candidate got in this segment.

''I am still a Congress worker,'' said Mr Kar who headed PCC several times besides served as minister, MP and Rajya Sabha member.

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