Mehbooba, Mian Altaf, Zafar Manhas file nomination papers for Anantnag-Rajouri parl seat

Anantnag, Apr 18: As the parliamentary election season heats up in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency, three significant contenders have thrown their hats into the ring, setting the stage for an intense electoral battle.
Mehbooba Mufti, former chief minister and president of People’s Democratic Party, accompanied by party leaders and supporters, arrived at the office of constituency’s Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Anantnag to file nomination.
Mian Altaf Ahmad, a seasoned leader of the National Conference, submitted his nominations on Thursday morning, representing the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) Bloc. Accompanied by former chief minister Omar Abdullah and senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Mian is all set to contest as the INDIA Bloc candidate.
Political analysts anticipate a direct face-off between the INDIA Bloc candidate and Mehbooba Mufti, President of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the upcoming election.
On the occasion, Omar Abdullah speaking to reporters said that Mian Altaf is the candidate of the NC, Congress, CPIM and other parties of the INDIA Alliance.
“We are hopeful that with the support of all these parties, Mian Altaf will achieve success. On behalf of the party’s president Dr Farooq Abdullah, I would like to thank Ghulam Ahmad Mir for travelling all the way from Delhi just to accompany Mian Altaf to file his nominations,” Omar said.
Meanwhile, Apni Party’s candidate, Zafar Iqbal Manhas, also filed his nomination papers for the Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary seat. Accompanied by senior party leaders, including Vice President Usman Majid and Party’s General Secretary Rafi Ahmad Mir, Manhas expressed his unwavering faith in the hands of Allah regarding victory and defeat.
Addressing reporters, Manhas said he is determined to make sincere efforts and stressed that while other parties are engrossed in their internal battles, he remains focused on his campaign.
Manhas said that it is the public who ultimately decides the outcome of an election. “There are no big or small candidates,” he said.
He pointed out that while some candidates carry the burden of decades of incumbency, he is grateful not to have such baggage, and believes they will be held accountable for their lengthy tenures.
“I have been a part of PDP, and late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed always accorded me due respect, often asking me to address every rally. I was like a star campaigner in PDP. As for the other party, NC, during the uncertainty in Shopian, I organised a programme when it was quite challenging to do so. That rally was addressed by Omar Abdullah, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Nasir Sogami, and others, and it’s not as if they didn’t need me,” he said.