J-K polls: 14 Kashmiri Pandits enter fray, return of displaced their aim

So far, 14 Kashmiri Pandits have filed nominations to contest from the valley for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, aiming to ensure the return and rehabilitation of their fellow community members, whose number run up to 3 lakh.

Srinagar's Habba Kadal assembly constituency has virtually turned into an electoral battlefield for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits.

A record six KPs out of the 14 have filed their nomination from the assembly segment, which goes to polls, along with 26 other constituencies in the second phase of elections, on September 25.

"As many as six candidates from the KP community have filed their nomination papers in Habba Kadal. Of them, five have filed under recognised political parties, while two have filed as Independents. A total of 14 candidates have filed their nominations," an election department official told PTI.

Ashok Kumar Bhat has filed his papers as the BJP candidate, Sanjay Saraf as the Lok Jan Shakti Party candidate, and Santosh Labr