Azad Scores By-Elections Victory

SRINAGAR, 28 April 2006 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad won the state by-elections from the Bhaderwah constituency in the hilly Doda district with a thumping majority. Azad defeated his nearest rival Dhantar Singh of the BJP. Azad got 58,515 votes. In the Valley, Iftikhar Hussain Ansari of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) lost to his NC rival Dr. Mustafa Kamal by a margin of 2,727 votes from the Pattan constituency. In Rafiabad constituency Mohammad Dilawar Mir of the PDP defeated his NC rival Mohammad Maqbool by a convincing margin of 8,659 votes. In the Sangrama constituency an independent candidate, Shoaib Lone, backed by the NC, defeated his PDP rival, Javaid Hussain Baig by 6,318 votes.