Srinagar, Aug 04(KNS): National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah will compete against jailed cleric Sarjan Barkati in the Ganderbal assembly seat contest in Jammu and Kashmir.

This election is significant for Abdullah, who previously lost the Lok Sabha election from the Baramulla seat to Engineer Rashid, who ran from Tihar Jail while facing UAPA charges.

Sarjan Ahmad Wagay, commonly known as Sarjan Barkati, is preparing to file his nomination papers for the Ganderbal seat, which is part of the second phase of Jammu and Kashmir's assembly elections scheduled for September 25. Barkati had initially filed his nomination for the Zainapora assembly seat in Shopian, South Kashmir.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelHowever, his nomination for Zainapora was rejected on September 4. The rejection occurred because Barkati failed to submit a complete signed oath certificate in time.

According to Barkati’s nephew, Rehbar Ahmad, Barkati will now focus on filing his nomination for the Ganderbal seat. Ganderbal is one of the key constituencies in the assembly elections, and the contest between Abdullah and Barkati is expected to be closely watched.

The Zainapora seat, where Barkati’s initial nomination was rejected, is set to vote in the first phase of the assembly elections on September 18.(KNS).