Kathua, Mar 27 : On the last day of filing of nomination papers for Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, Congress candidate Choudhary Lal Singh filed his nomination papers in Deputy Commissioner Office Kathua here today.

He filed his nomination papers around 12 pm after which he straight away drove to Ramlila ground Kathua where he and other Congress leaders addressed a rally.

According to news agency, Singh was accompanied by All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and incharge party affairs for Jammu and Kashmir Bharatsin Solanki, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani, AICC co-incharge J&K Manoj Yadav and other party leaders.

Thousands of people attended the rally who had come from the length and breadth of the constituency which is spread from Lakhanpur in Kathua district to Jawahar tunnel in Banihal and Marwah and Warwan areas of Kishtwar district.

Addressing the rally, Singh said that he always stands for justice and will never back off. “You will find people from every community in my rallies. Be it Gujjars, Bakarwals, Giddis, Poonchis, Mirpuris, Kishtwaris, Bhaderwahis and Dogras, everybody becomes part of my rallies,” he said.

He was critical of the present government for not addressing the issues of the common people.

The filing of nomination papers by Choudhary Lal Singh marked the beginning of the direct fight between the two national parties Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress. From BJP side Dr. Jitendra Singh had filed his nomination papers on March 21 whereas Congress candidate filed it today.

Besides, BJP and Congress, another high profile candidate is Ghulam Muhammad Saroori from Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) who is banking on the good work done by him during his tenure as MLA Inderwal and on the work done by DPAP chairman and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

By end of the date for filing of nomination papers, a total of 12 candidates have filed their papers with returning officer (DC Kathua) including covering candidates of BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party. Tomorrow the scrutiny of papers will be done and March 30 is the last date for withdrawal of nomination papers.

This constituency will go for polls on April 19 in the first phase and the counting of votes is on June 4—(KNO)