J-K polls: Congress chief Karra files nomination from Central Shalteng

Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra on Thursday filed nomination papers from the Central Shalteng Assembly constituencyHe urged the people to vote wisely asserting that it was not just an election after 10 years but a onceinalifetime opportunity to shape Jammu and Kashmirs destiny for the next 100 yearsThe 69yearold Karra a former Jammu and Kashmir minister also defended his partys alliance with the National Conference for the polls saying it was to fight against dictatorship and to reclaim what is rightfully oursThursday was the last day for the filing of nomination papers for the second phase of the threephased assembly elections in the Union TerritoryCentral Shalteng is among 26 segments spread across Srinagar Ganderbal and Budgam in Kashmir and Rajouri Poonch and Reasi districts in Jammu that will go to polls on September 25The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections are scheduled to be held in three phases with voting for the first phase to be held on September 18 followed by the second phase on September 25 and the third phase on October 1Accompanied by enthusiastic supporters who chanted slogans in his favour Karra filed his papers before the returning officer for the constituencyThis moment marks a sacred responsibility for generations to come as I filed my nomination for the assembly elections This is not just my nomination but a representation of the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have yearned for democracy and justice he told PTIKarra is a former PDP leader who quit the party in 2016 He was a fierce critic of the BJPPDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir that lasted for three years before ending in 2018He joined the Congress in 2017 a few months after he resigned from the Lok Sabha and the basic membership of the PDPHe handed the firstever electoral defeat to NC president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah by winning the Srinagar parliamentary constituency in the 2014 general electionsThis nomination is a tribute to every single Kashmiri who has cried for democracy and every single citizen of Jammu and Kashmir who laid down his life for the sake of secularism and democratic values It is a symbol of hope and resilience in the face of oppression and suppression the Congress leader saidKarra who took over as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief in August replacing former minister Vikar Rasool Wani said This is not just an election after 10 years but a onceinalifetime opportunity to shape JampKs destiny for the next 100 years Its a vote for securing JampKs future restoring its glory and empowering its people This is a chance to write the next chapter in JampKs history and define the course for the next 100 years he saidOn the National ConferenceCongress alliance he said it demonstrates the strength and unity of the two parties against ldquodictatorshiprdquoTogether we will fight for the rights of the people restoration of statehood and protection of our unique identity The BJPs policies of divide and rule and divisive politics will not succeed here We will not be silenced or suppressed We will rise and reclaim what is rightfully ours Karra saidThe NC and the Congress have agreed on a seatsharing arrangement for the 90 assembly seats with the National Conference set to contest 51 of them and the Congress 32Additionally the CPIM and the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party JKNPP have been allocated one seat each while both parties are having a friendly contest on five seatsAsking the voters to vote wisely in this election he said Let this election be a turning point in JampKs history Let us march towards a brighter future together The future of JampK is in your hands vote wisely as this decision will shape the next 100 years of our beloved motherland he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever