Jammu and Kashmir: Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah will contest the upcoming assembly elections from Ganderbal. The decision was announced by Lok Sabha member Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and NC provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani in the presence of Omar Abdullah and senior NC leader Mian Altaf Ahmed. Omar Abdullah’s candidature was announced at Nuner village in Ganderbal district. During the visit, political activist Syed Mustafa joined the party. Mustafa had earlier contested for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat but lost to Syed Ruhullah Mehdi. Omar Abdullah served as the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2009 to 2015.
He has also been a three-time Lok Sabha MP
and has represented Ganderbal (2008-2014) and Beerwah (2014-2019) in the assembly. In 2002, he lost the Ganderbal seat to Qazi Mohammad Afzal of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The Election Commission of India has issued notice for the first phase of the three-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The first phase will see polling in 24 assembly constituencies in the Valley and Jammu division on September 18. Election schedule The second phase of polling is scheduled for September 25, while the last phase will be held on October 1. The counting of votes will take place on October 4, after which the entire election process will be completed by October 6. Jammu and Kashmir has been without an elected government since June 2018, when the BJP withdrew from its alliance with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP. Following this, then governor Satya Pal Malik imposed Governor’s rule, who later dissolved the assembly.
