| LC polls: Suspense ends on candidates | | Cong springs surprise with 'nod ' to Bloeria, Gupta's name | | early times report
Jammu, Feb 17: A day before last date of filing of nomination papers for 8 seats of MLC elections next month, all the major parties in fray finalized its candidates to be fielded from both Kashmir as well as Jammu regions agai-nst the seats that are falling vacant by March upon completion of the term of members belonging to these parties.
Coalition allies National Conference and Congress would be contesting three seats each , albeit on a different pattern this time with Congress fielding one candidate from Kashmir and two against wto seats from Jammu. Similarly NC would be fielding two candidates from Kashmir and one from Jammu against as seat to be shared by coalition. While both NC and Congress remained tightlipped till today about the name of candidates , Congress sprung a surprise with at least two names for Jammu region that were not in picture while scores of names made rounds in the party corridors as strong contenders for the seats.
Sources said Rani Bloeria, ex Deputy Mayor has managed to get the ticket even as her name remained under wraps for the reason that senior most leaders of the party were in race for the berth she would finally get in the Upper House. What came as another surprise in the Congress is that it has chosen to repeat its candidate Naresh Gupta for a second term from Jammu region , again a decision that has disappointed many stalwarts aspiring to make it to Legislative Council this time .The two names though not declared officially , sources said would be cleared by the leadership. From Kashmir region, the name that remained under discussion till late in the evening was Muzaffar Parray , a senior functionary to be fielded by Congress. However, the name of one Ishfaq Jabbar , congress functionary from Ganderbal was also said to a probable candidate under discussion of party leadership till late in the evening.
Ruling NC would be repeating Devinder Singh Rana from Jammu, which sprung no surprise , the party has decided to field two candidates considered to be heavy weights from south Kashmir. Showkat Ganai of Wachi, who has already served a term in the Upper House would be fielded once again besides Abdul Majid Mir of Shangus from two Kashmir seats.
Opposition PDP had already made its scene clear few days back with its Chief Spokesperson Nayeem Akhtar's name a unanimous choice from Kashmir, and Yashpal Sharma from the Jammu. PDP is for certain to register victory on both the seats.
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