Omar Abdullah Files Nomination for Ganderbal Assembly Seat

Omar Abdullah, National Conference vice president, filed nomination papers for the Ganderbal assembly seat. Accompanied by senior party leaders and his sons, Abdullah returned to this constituency, which he represented from 2009 to 2014. The decision comes after vacillating on contesting in union territory legislatures.

National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the Ganderbal assembly seat. Accompanied by senior leaders and his sons, Abdullah submitted the papers to the returning officer at the Mini-Secretariat, surrounded by enthusiastic supporters.

This event signifies Abdullah's return to a constituency he previously represented from 2009 to 2014 during his tenure as chief minister of the NC-Congress coalition government in the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state. He last contested and won the 2014 assembly polls from the Beerwah seat but was defeated in Sonwar by then-PDP leader Mohammad Ashraf Mir.

Abdullah's decision to run comes as he reassesses his stance on union territory legislatures after previously stating he wouldn't contest for such a seat. He acknowledged that asking others to participate while abstaining himself would send the wrong message.

(With inputs from agencies.)