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Farooq, G A Mir will contest from Srinagar, Anantnag

SYED YASIR. Dated: 3/16/2017 9:49:10 AM

SRINAGAR, Mar 15: National Conference and Congress today announced that they will fight by-elections to Srinagar and Anantnag seats jointly.
This was decided by NC after conclusion of core group meeting which was attended by senior party leaders.
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah will contest from Srinagar Budgam seat while as state Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir will be the candidate of the alliance from Anantnag-Pulwama seat.
Addressing a joint press conference by Omar Abdullah and G.A. Mir, Omar Abdullah said that his party decided to contest the elections jointly with Congress for the two parliamentary seats.
Omar Abdullah said that after having an exhaustive exercise, it has decided by the National Conference core group that party will go for an alliance with Congress to fight the opposition PDP.
He said that his father and NC president will contest from Srinagar-Budgam seat and G.A. Mir will be the coalition candidate from Anantnag Pulwama parliamentary seat.
Omar Abdullah said that Congress party has assured them that all its workers and well-wishers will ensure victory for Dr Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar while their workers and will work for the victory of Congress candidate from Anantnag.
Asked how confident he was of winning, Omar Abdullah said: "Nobody can go into elections with 100 per cent surety but we are pretty sure of winning both these seats."
Omar Abdullah also said that the election commission should ensure conducive atmosphere for the upcoming Lok Sabha by-elections for the Srinagar and Islamabad parliamentary seats.
Omar Abdullah said that there are threats to candidates during the entire election. And in this situation government should have increased the security of leaders. But, instead the government is decreasing the security.
“I am telling you that the security of my members has been taken away. Blood proof vehicles of party functionaries have been taken, escort vehicles taken away and security of former candidates who contested previous elections are being asked to manage without PSOs. How does government expect to fight elections under such circumstances,” Omar said.
He said that Election Commission has to make the situation appropriate for the elections and it has to ensure that those who want to participate in the elections as candidates or campaigners have to be provided foolproof security.
Today’s, NC Core Group meeting was attended by NC Working President Omar Abdullah, General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, Abdul Rahim Rather, Chaudhary Mohammad Ramzan, Mian Altaf Ahmed, Nasir Aslam Wani, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Sakina Ittoo, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy and Aga Ruhullah Mehdi.