Srinagar: Lok Sabha member Thupstan Chhewang was among five aspirants who entered the fray today for the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly election slated for November 17.

Ten assembly seats - four in Ladakh region and three each in Bandipora and Poonch districts - will go the hustings in the first round.

Chhewang, who represents Ladakh constituency in the Lok Sabha, filed his nomination as an Independent from Leh seat, official sources said.

National Conference nominees Qammer Ali Akhoon and Feroz Ahmed Khan submitted their papers for Kargil and Zanskar seats respectively in Ladakh region.

Mosin Ali, also of National Conference, entered the fray as a cover candidate from Zanskar constituency.

For the fourth assembly seat in Ladakh, Ahmad Shah jumped into the poll arena from Nobra constituency as an independent.

No nominations were filed for remaining six seats in Bandipora and Poonch districts.

People's Democratic Party candidate Mumtaz Ahmed Khan was the first to file his papers for the upcoming assembly poll.

He entered the fray from Mendhar constituency in Poonch district on Saturday.

The last date for filing of nominations for the first phase is October 31, scrutiny will be held the next day and withdrawals can be effected till November three.
Source : PTI