NC fields industrialist-politician against Mehbooba for Assembly by-poll

SRINAGAR: Opposition National Conference (NC) today nominated Iftikhar Misger, an industrialist-politician, as the party's candidate for by-election to Anantnag Assembly constituency which is scheduled to go to polls on June 19.

The decision was taken by NC's Parliamentary Board, a party spokesman said.

He said after taking inputs from local leadership in Anantnag and surrounding areas, the Parliamentary Board decided to field Misger in the by-election.

Misger is an industrialist-politician who has completed his MBA from BMS College, Bangalore in 1995 and has worked in the corporate sector with Syndet, Gati and DLL before starting his own entrepreneurial journey in Kashmir, the spokesman said.

Misger is currently the Constituency In-charge and Block President Anantnag for the party and has previously served as the party s Youth District President for Anantnag District.

He unsuccessfully contested the elections from the constituency in 2014.

The by-poll to the constituency was necessitated by the death of former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The by-poll was initially slated for May 16, but had to be deferred at the request of the state government, which said the law and order situation was not conducive.