J&K elections: PDP names 17 candidates, Peoples Conference 7

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Peoples Conference and People's Democratic Party (PDP) released fresh lists of candidates for the upcoming assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.

Both parties are contesting the polls alone and have decided to field candidates on select seats across the Union Territory.

The Peoples Conference issued its first list of seven candidates, including former Rajya Sabha member Nazir Ahmad Laway from Kulgam in southern Kashmir and former legislator Abid Ansari from Zadibal constituency in Srinagar.

The PDP issued another list of 17 candidates including Syed Muntazir Mehdi, son of prominent Shia Hurriyat leader Aga Hassan Al Moosvi, who will fight from Budgam, former minister Basharat, Bukhari who will contest from Wagoora-Kreeri and senior local journalist Syed Tajammul, who will fight from Bandipora.

Meanwhile, former mayor of Srinagar city Junaid Azim Mattu resigned from J&K Apni Party, stating that his own convictions are no longer congruent or symmetrical with the ideology of the party. «Whatever I decide, my efforts will be aligned towards a life guided by my faith and an unadulterated conviction — as unpalatable or as inexpedient as it may be in the short term,» said Mattu, who has changed three parties in the past decade.

Nomination of jailed separatist Barkati rejected

The returning officers have rejected the candidature of 26 candidates, including that of jailed religious preacher Sarjan Barkati, whose family had filed the nomination on his behalf from Zainpora constituency of southern Kashmir. Officials said