PDP fields Mehbooba from Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency

PDP has great influence in the 4 districts that constitute the Anantnag constituency

Mehbooba Mufti Mehbooba Mufti at a press conference | PTI

PDP's decision to field party president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti from Anantnag has made the contest in the Lok Sabha constituency triangular.

National Conference and the Congress, who have formed an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir, have also fielded candidates from Anantnag.

The two parties have said it would be a friendly contest, after the NC gave the mandate to retired High Court judge Hasnain Masoodi. Congress has fielded J&KPCC chief G.A. Mir.

All three parties have support in Anantnag, but PDP commands maximum influence in the four districts that constitute the Lok Sabha constituency.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Mehbooba said she will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Anantnag and Aga Mohsin from Srinagar.

Mohsin will be up against NC's Farooq Abdullah, who won the last byelections for the constituency when only eight per cent voters cast their ballot.

PDP has fielded former government employees union head Abdul Qayoom where his main rival will be NC's Akbar Lone who's a former state cabinet minister and assembly speaker.

PDP president said the party has decided not to field any candidates from two seats in Jammu region—Udhampure-Doda and Jammu-Poonch.

NC has also decided not to field any candidates from the two seats leaving the competition directly between the Congress and the BJP.

BJP's Jitender Singh Rana and Jugal Kishore had won the region's two seats in 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

This time, however, the saffron party will face a challenge from Congress that is likely to get support from the voters of the NC and the PDP to keep BJP out.

Mehbooba's entry to south Kashmir constituency has made the contest in Anantnag tough for the NC and the Congress.

If she is able to win back the trust of PDP voters who are angry with the party for having entered into an alliance with the BJP after assembly polls and its role in the 2016 uprising, PDP will have an edge over the NC and the Congress.

There is also a possibility of a boycott in Anantnag due to the precarious security situation. A boycott will favour PDP's opponents.