Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 2 : Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) and Peoples Conference candidates are facing contest for Srinagar Mayor and Deputy Mayor with former National Conference spokesman, Junaid Azim Mattu, being top contender for the post.
Junaid Azim Mattu filed his nomination papers in Srinagar today for the post of Mayor of Srinagar at the Office of Commissioner Srinagar Municipal Corporation as the candidate of People’s Conference. Accompanied by Corporators and supporters, Junaid filed the papers around noon today.
The party has also declared its support to an independent candidate from Habbak, Muhammad Saleem Lone for the post of Deputy Mayor. Saleem Lone also filed his nomination papers today for the Deputy Mayor’s post.
Junaid Mattu who was spokesman of National Conference and close aide of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, resigned from the party in September this year after the NC announced boycott of the Municipal and Panchayat elections.
Mattu started his political career with People’s Conference, led by Sajad Gani Lone, when the latter abandoned separatist politics to join mainstream in 2009. Mattu parted ways with Lone’s party in 2013 to join the National Conference.
Governor SP Malik during an interview last month without naming Mattu, hinted that he may be Srinagar’s Mayor.
Congress on the other hand fielded Councilor from Batamaloo ward, Ghulam Rasool Hajjam, as party’s candidate for the post of Mayor and party’s independent associate Sheikh Imran as Deputy Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
Congress president Ghulam Ahmad Mir today told a press conference here that Ghulam Rasool Hajjam the Congress candidate for the post of Mayor Srinagar Municipal Corporation has won by a margin of 2000 votes from a Batamaloo ward and party’s independent associate Sheikh Imran would be Congress backed candidate for the post of Deputy Mayor.
The JKPCC chief said that the maximum number of Independent Councilors have extended their support to Congress.
The election for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor is scheduled to be held on November 6. Sheikh is a weaker candidate in front of Mattu.
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