In the last 10 parliaments, 9 MPs were from NC alone; need new voices: Sajad Lone
Files nomination papers from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency
Baramulla: People’s Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Wednesday filed nomination papers from the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jailed Awami Ittehad Party leader Abdul Rashid Sheikh alias Engineer Rashid has already filed nomination papers from this north Kashmir constituency. National Conference leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah is also contesting for this seat.
Besides other party leaders, Lone was also flanked by the chairperson of the District Development Council Baramulla, Safina Baig to the office of District Magistrate, Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, who is the Returning Officer for the constituency, to file his papers.
The contest for the Baramulla Lok Sabha seat promises to be an electrifying showdown as Lone is to take former chief minister and National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah head-on in a direct fight while Fayaz Ahmad Mir from PDP, and jailed Independent candidate Abdul Rashid Shiekh (Er. Rashid) too are formidable opponents and cannot be undermined.
Transitioning from a background steeped in separatist politics to mainstream engagement, Lone’s nomination signals a significant political shift. He aims to inject fresh perspectives into Kashmir’s representation in Parliament, both for the people of the region and the broader Indian electorate.
Talking to reporters after filing his papers, Lone said this is the first election after the abrogation of Article 370 by the Centre in 2019. “The people of Kashmir deserve to be represented by a new voice, a different voice. Even the people of India deserve to know what exactly is happening here.”
Expressing his determination to dispel prevailing misconceptions about Kashmir’s reality, Lone vows to amplify the voices of north Kashmir within the parliamentary arena. His bid for electoral representation enjoys support from various quarters, including the Apni Party led by Altaf Bukhari and several former legislators.
“Not only the people of Kashmir deserve that they be represented by a different voice, but also the people of India deserve that they know exactly what is happening here,” Lone said.
He said that in the last 10 Parliaments, nine times MPs from one party have represented the constituency, and now “new voices should come as there is a lot of confusion as to what is the reality here”.
“If we are given an opportunity, I promise that the voice of the people of north Kashmir will resonate across the Parliament,” he said.
This isn’t Lone’s maiden voyage into electoral politics. Having previously contested the same seat in 2009, his decision to re-enter the fray demonstrates his resolve to carve out a political space for himself and his party within the region.
Lone’s political journey is deeply intertwined with the legacy of his father, Abdul Gani Lone, the founder of the Peoples Conference. Following his father’s assassination in 2002, Lone vociferously denounced Pakistan and the separatist movement, ultimately steering the Peoples Conference towards mainstream politics in 2009.
As Sajad Gani Lone embarks on representing this constituency and also reshaping the political discourse in Kashmir, his candidacy “also symbolizes a departure from the status quo, offering a fresh narrative and championing the aspirations of Kashmiris on a national stage”.
On the occasion, Lone reiterated his challenge that he would withdraw his nomination if the National Conference could get the INDIA bloc to make a public commitment to the restoration of Article 370.
“There are still four days left. I will withdraw if they (NC) get the INDIA alliance to say that they will get back Article 370, Article 35A and internal autonomy (for Jammu and Kashmir),” he added.
Polling in the Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency will be held on May 20.
Imran Raza Ansari, also from the Jammu & Kashmir People’s Conference filed his nomination as a covering candidate for Lone.
Suhail Ahmad Khan, an Independent, Peerzada Mudasir Rashid Shah from Jammu & Kashmir National Panthers Party (Bhim); Nazir Ahmad Sofi, also an Independent, and Mushtaq Ahmad Mir from National Loktantrik Party also submitted their nomination papers at the office of the Returning Officer of 01-Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency.
A total of six nominations were filed today, which took the total number of candidates who have filed their candidature for 01-Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency to 10.
