First after 370 scrapping, Punjab resident to contest Lok Sabha polls in Kashmir

A candidate from outside the region will enter the Lok Sabha race in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Baldev Kumar, a social worker from Punjab, is now contesting independently from the Rajouri-Anantnag constituency. Hailing from Mohali, near Chandigarh, the 67-year-old received his election symbol on Tuesday, joining a field of 21 candidates for the May 7 elections.