The 79-year-old former union minister and National Conference (NC) president had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a political minnow and former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra from his pocket burrow of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 polls.
The National Conference, which is contesting the by-elections to the two Lok Sabha seats from the state in alliance with the Congress, will field its old war horse and three-time chief minister Farooq Abdullah from Srinagar seat to redeem the party's lost glory.
The 79-year-old former union minister and National Conference (NC) president had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of a political minnow and former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra from his pocket burrow of Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency in 2014 polls.
Known for his flamboyance, Farooq studied medicine in his youth days and went on to become a medical practitioner. Quite a colourful personality in his youth, Farooq created quite a buzz when he rode a bike with top Bollywood actress as his pillion.
Srinagar parliamentary seat fell vacant after former PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra quit in protest against the civilian killings of summer unrest of 2016. Karra recently joined Congress but did not seek re-election this time around.
Spanning over three districts of central Kashmir, Srinagar parliamentary seat comprises of 15 assembly constituencies. Farooq will be pitted against former Congress leader Nazir Khan, who is contesting on PDP ticket.
"We are contesting these elections jointly to defeat those forces whose sole focus remains to fragment this state and its people in order to derive political dividends. The state has been pushed into a period of instability, uncertainty, misery and chaos and it hence merits that like-minded forces should fight together to ensure the state's interests and rights are protected at all costs," said Omar Abdullah, NC working president.
Jammu and Kashmir State Congress president GA Mir will be the alliance candidate from Anantnag parliamentary constituency. He is pitted against Mehbooba Mufti's brother and award-winning Bollywood cinematographer Mufti Tasaduq Hussain in the constituency.
Mir, who was accused in the infamous sex scandal of 2006 was acquitted by the CBI court in Chandigarh a few years ago. A former tourism minister, Mir lost the assembly elections from the Dooru constituency in Anantnag district in 2014.
Srinagar and Anantnag parliamentary constituencies are going to polls on April 9 and 12 respectively. Spanning over four districts and comprising 16 assembly constituencies, Anantnag parliamentary seat of sensitive south Kashmir fell vacant after Mehbooba Mufti became the chief minister.
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