An independent candidate today withdrew his nomination papers from Anantnag parliamentary constituency which is going to bypolls next month, leaving six candidates, including PDP's Mufti Tassaduq Hussain and Congress's G A Mir, in the fray.
"Out of seven candidates whose nominations were found valid for contesting the by-elections, Mohammad Yaseen Paswal, an Independent candidate, has withdrawn his candidature today, the last day of withdrawal of nomination papers," an official spokesman said.
After Paswal's withdrawal, six candidates - Mufti (brother of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti), Mir (state Congress chief), Sanjay Kumar Dhar of Rashtriya Samajwadi Party (S), Ghulam Mohammad Wani of All J&K Kissan Mazdoor Party, and Independent candidates, Rakesh Koul and Sajad Ahmad Dar - are now in the fray for Anantnag Parliamentary seat which is going to polls on April 12.
Meanwhile, the state Congress unit claimed that Paswal withdrew his candidature in support of Mir, who is a joint candidate of National Conference and Congress.
"Paswal announced his decision to withdrew from the contest in support of Mir after meeting senior leader Taj Mohiudin at Khanabal in Anantnag today. The duo held four-hour long discussion regarding the election," the party said in a statement here.
It said Paswal assured "full support" to Mir in the upcoming by-elections.
The Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was vacated by Mehbooba following her election to the state Legislative Assembly last year.
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