Mufti's loss in newly carved Anantnag-Rajouri seat is a blow for PDP ahead of J&K assembly polls, with NC's Mian Altaf Ahmad winning by a comfortable margin of 2,81,794 votes.
PDP chief is pitted in party stronghold against NC candidate, who is banking on Gujjar-Bakarwal votes. Apni Party has fielded Zaffar Manhas, a Pahari supported by BJP.
Councillors, workers from Congress, BJP, PDP & Sajjad Lone's PC — most from volatile Anantnag — are on militant hitlists and have been holed up in hotels for past 8 months.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
COMMENTS