Srinagar: During the scrutiny of nomination papers for the Anantnag seat by Returning Officer Khalid Jahangir in Anantnag on Friday, 17 nominations were accepted, while two nominations filed by Safeer Ahmad Malik of the Rashtriya Jan Kranti Party and Independent candidate Bashir Ahmad Malik were rejected.
The adjournment was granted by the Returning Officer on the request of an Independent candidate, Shamus Khawaja, till April 6. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is April 8.
Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti, who is seeking re-election for the Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency, is pitted against Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president GA Mir, Justice (retd) Hasnain Masoodi of the National Conference, Choudhary Zaffar Ali of the People’s Conference and Sofi Mohammad Yusuf of the BJP.
The constituency has 16 Assembly segments spread over four south Kashmir districts of Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. Unlike in the past, the seat will go to the polls in three phases — third, fourth and fifth.
The arrangement has been worked out in view of the volatile security situation in the four districts for the past nearly three years. The situation was triggered by the killing of militant Burhan Wani in an encounter that led to the unrest in 2016.
