Farooq Abdullah, Tasaaduq Syed to contest JK Lok Sabha by-polls

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir)[India], Mar. 14(ANI):Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah and son of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Tasaaduq Sayeed are all set to contest the state Lok Sabha by-poll elections slated on April 12. Abdullah will contest from National Conference (NC) ticket from Budgam and Sayeed from Anantnag to contest the by-polls. According to the Election Commission, elections for the constituency will be held on April 12. The seat fell vacant on account of Mehbooba resigning from her Lok Sabha membership and contesting from the assembly segment in the same constituency. As per the notification, last date of filing nominations has been fixed on March 21, while as scrutiny of papers will be held on March 22 and the last date of withdrawal of candidature is March 24. The by-poll for the Anantnag Assembly seat was necessitated due to the death of her father and former J and K chief minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. By-election for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat will also be held in the same month - on April 9 and counting of votes will be held on April 16. The Srinagar Lok Sabha seat was vacated by former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra who had resigned last year in protest against alleged brutalities on Kashmir protesters. The by-elections in Kashmir will be a major test for the PDP-BJP coalition government due to the simmering public anger over the use of pellet guns against protesters. (ANI)