Jammu and Kashmir: Candidates file nomination for Baramulla-Kupwara parliamentary seat

In his maiden attempt to enter the Lok Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming elections, Raja Aijaz Ali of Peoples Conference party on Friday filed his nomination papers for the Baramulla-Kupwara Parliamentary seat.

Arriving at election office here in a procession, the Peoples Conference party leader said that his aim is to develop the state.

"My main agenda behind contesting for the Lok Sabha elections is to develop the state. We want the voices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir should be heard in the Parliament. I urge people to give us one chance and cast their ballot in favour of me," he said.

People's Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone too spoke on the same lines and said if voted to power they will make efforts to develop the region.

"If voted to power, we will raise the issues pertaining to this region in the Parliament situated in Delhi. People are very angry with the traditional political parties here. I am sure that we will win these elections," he said.

Sajjad also clarified that his political quarter will fight independently in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Apart from Raja Aijaz Ali, National Conference (NC) legislator Muhammad Akbar Lone filed nomination papers for the Kupwara parliamentary seat. While speaking to media he assured the public that his party will make efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue if voted to power in April.

The NC and Congress have sealed an alliance for three Lok Sabha seats in the state and decided to go for friendly contests on three other seats.

In a meeting, Rahul Gandhi-led Congress agreed not to field any of its candidate against NC president Farooq Abdullah from Srinagar while NC left the seats of Jammu and Udhampur for its ally.

Six Lok Sabha seats of Jammu and Kashmir will go to polls in five phases.

Baramulla and Jammu constituencies will go to polls in the first phase while Srinagar and Udhampur constituencies will go to polls in the second phase.

Anantnag constituency will go to polls in third, fourth and fifth phases given the precarious security situation in the south Kashmir region. And Ladakh constituency will go to polls in the fifth phase.