DDC polls: Political greenhorns trounce former MLAs, MLCs

Srinagar: A number of former legislators were defeated by new faces in Jammu & Kashmir’s first-ever district development council (DDC) polls.
The newly floated Apni Party suffered a massive setback in Sangrama when former MLA and its district president Shoiab Nabi Lone suffered defeat at the hands of Irfan Hafiz Lone.
Shoiab was elected as MLA of Sangrama Assembly segment in 2006 by-polls after assassination of his father Ghulam Nabi Lone, who was minister of state for Education in PDP-Congress regime.
The biggest setback came to BJP from Doda where its former minister and legislator Shakti Raj Parihar was defeated by Asim Hashmi of National Conference.
Parihar, who was elected as MLA in 2014 from Doda, served as minister of state in Mehbooba Mufti-led regime.
Former MLA Choudhary Muhammad Akram of Congress lost DDC elections to Shanawaz Choudhary, an independent candidate, by a margin of 2675 votes on Sunarkote-A seat in Poonch district.
In Poonch district, former MLC Shehnaz Ganie also lost elections to Atiqa Begum of National Conference by a margin of 1281 votes.
Before resigning from National Conference, Shenaz was member of Jammu & Kashmir’s Legislative Council for six years.
Former MLA Mumtaz Khan also lost elections in Reasi district of Jammu province