PDP, Congress nominees file papers in Anantnag (Lead)

Srinagar March 22 (IANS) Candidates of both the Jammu and Kashmir s ruling PDP and the Congress on Wednesday filed their nomination papers for the Anantnag Lok Sabha by-election.

Tasaduq Hussain Sayeed of the Peoples Democratic Party a brother of Chief Minister Mahbooba Mufti and state Congress President G.A. Mir filed the papers at the office of the District Development Commissioner.

Sayeed was accompanied by PDP leaders Muzafar Hussain Baig Abdul Haq Khan Abdul Rehman Veeri and Mehboob Beigh.

A debutant in politics Sayeed had been pursuing a career in Bollywood as a cinematographer.

Mir was accompanied by former Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah besides Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Tariq Hameed Karra.

Mir is the joint candidate of the National Conference and the Congress. The two parties are contesting the Lok Sabha by-elections jointly both in Anantnag and in Srinagar constituencies.

Elections in Anantnag in south Kashmir became necessary after Mehbooba Mufti who represented the seat became the Chief Minister.

The Srinagar seat fell vacant when Tariq Hameed Karra elected in 2014 resigned both from the PDP and the Lok Sabha to join the Congress.

Voting in Srinagar is due on April 9 and in Anantnag on April 12.

--IANS
sq/nir/mr