Farooq Abdullah not to contest Lok Sabha: National Conference

Srinagar: National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah will not contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election due to his "health condition", party vice president Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday.

Farooq Abdullah, 86, a former chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, is the sitting member of Parliament from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency.

The NC has decided to field candidates in all three LS constituencies in Kashmir and support the INDIA alliance on two seats of Jammu division. The party has announced prominent tribal leader Mian Altaf as its candidate from Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat. "Dr sahib won't be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections because of his health condition. We will field the most appropriate candidate from Srinagar and north Kashmir," said Abdullah.