Srinagar, Apr 4: Apni Party led by Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today announced its two candidates for the Lok Sabha (LS) polls.
Addressing a press conference here, senior party leader and Chairman Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Mohammad Dilwar Mir said that Mohammad Ashraf Mir will contest from the Srinagar constituency while Zaffar Iqbal Mannhas from the Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch constituency.
“The party leadership has unanimously decided on the candidature of party senior leader and Vice President Zaffar Iqbal Manhas for the Anantnag–Rajouri constituency, and the party’s Provincial President for Kashmir, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, for the Srinagar constituency,” he said.
About the candidate for the Baramulla constituency, Mir stated that the Apni Party has not yet decided about it. “Since the constituency is scheduled for polls in the final phase of the election, there is no need to rush the decision,” he said.
The Apni Party leader said that his party has decided not to field any candidate for the two seats in Jammu. “Apni Party does not possess sufficient strength in the Jammu province required to contest an election. Therefore, we have decided to shift our focus solely to the valley,” he said.
To a question as to why a poll alliance was not formed with Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) despite the initial talks, Mir said,” Yes the talks were held but no headway was made. Yesterday Azad Sahab announced his candidature for the Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch seat.”
Apni Party is the first political party which has announced its candidate for the prestigious Srinagar constituency.
The Apni Party candidate for the Srinagar constituency, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, is a former minister. He had defeated former chief minister and National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah from Sonwar assembly polls in the 2014 elections. It is to be seen whether Omar Abdullah will contest the parliamentary polls this time from Srinagar or Baramulla.
Zafar Iqbal Manhas, hailing from Shopian district, is an ex-MLC. A prominent writer, he is also the former secretary of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages.