Shah Basit
Days after the rejection of his form from Zainapora in Shopian, Sarjan Barkati is likely to file his nomination form for the Ganderbal assembly segment.
Sources informed The Kashmiriyat that Sarjan Barkati will file his nomination form for the assembly polls.
The last date for filing nomination papers for the seats in phase two of assembly polls is September 5 while the scrutiny will be done on September 06, as per officials.
In the second phase of the assembly polls, the seats up for election include Gulabgarh (ST), Reasi, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, Kalakote-Sunderbani, Nowshera, Rajouri (ST), Budhal (ST), Thannamandi (ST), Surankote (ST), Poonch Haveli, Mendhar (ST), Kangan (ST), Ganderbal, Hazratbal, Khanyar, Habbakadal, Lal Chowk, Channapora, Zadibal, Eidgah, Central Shalteng, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-I-Sharief, and Chadoora.
The family of Sarjan Barkati, the jailed cleric, declined to comment on the matter. However, close aides revealed that they plan to mobilize strongly, with Barkati’s daughter expected to lead campaign on his behalf. “Barkati will either contest the Lal chowk seat in Srinagar or the Ganderbal assembly seat,” said a close aide of the jailed cleric.
Pertinently, the nomination of Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, commonly known as Sarjan Barkati, for the upcoming Jammu Kashmir Assembly elections was rejected by the Returning Officer for the 36-Zainapora constituency on August 28.
An official had told The Kashmiriyat that the decision came after the nomination papers were found to be missing essential documentation required under Section 16 of the Jammu Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019.
Barkati, who became famous post 2016 civilian unrest has been in jail since August 2023. His wife was also arrested by SIA in militancy funding case in November 2023, leaving behind their teenager children.