Suhail Dar
Jammu Kashmir National conference (NC) leader Peerzada Mohammed Hussain is scheduled to file his nomination from Anantnag main constituency on Friday.
A close aide of the former MLA speaking to The Kashmiriyat said that Peerzada Hussain, a prominent political figure from Kashmir valley will contact the assembly polls from Anantnag seat.
Peerzada Hussain is being seen as one of the strongest candidates on the Anantnag seat and the seat overall is expected to see a tough battle between National Conference and People’s Democratic Party which is likely to field several time MLA Dr. Mehboob Beig from the Anantnag seat.
The seat will go to polls on September 18, during the first phase of the elections.
Residents of Anantnag, a key town within this assembly seat, have called for the restoration of their historic town and the implementation of measures to boost local trade.
It is worth noting that businesses in this historic south Kashmir town have seen a decline in trading activities in recent years.
Peer Mohammed Hussain, born on April 12, 1941, is a prominent Kashmiri politician from Kashmir. He served as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from Shangus (2002-2008) and was also the Vice Chairman of the J-K Muslim Wakf Board.
Affiliated with politics for many years, Hussain was a close aide of Mirza Afzal Beg. In 1999, he was a founding member of the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and played a key role in establishing the party in south Kashmir and the Chenab Valley.
He won the Shangus seat in the 2002 elections and served as Minister of State for PDD, Health, Fisheries, and Higher Education under Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
After losing the 2009 Lok Sabha election to Mirza Mehboob Beg, Hussain was appointed Vice Chairman of the J&K Muslim Wakf Board in 2015 by CM Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.
However, he resigned from the PDP and his board position in November 2017.
On December 19, 2018, Hussain joined the Jammu Kashmir National Conference, leaving behind the PDP.
Pertinently, the nomination process for 24 assembly constituencies in Jammu Kashmir, set for the first phase of polling on September 18, began on Tuesday.
The Election Commission will issue notifications for these seats, which include four in Pulwama, two in Shopian, three in Kulgam, seven in Anantnag, three in Doda, three in Kishtwar, and two in Ramban.
Candidates can file their nominations until August 27, with scrutiny scheduled for August 28, as per officials.