Former National Conference leader Junaid Mattu on Tuesday elected as the Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).An official said that Mattu polled 40 out of total 70 votes in the election held at SMC office in Karan Nagar. His nearest rival got 26 votes while four were declared invalid. Mattu, who was a former spokesman of Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, had filed his nomination for the top post in SMC as the candidate of Peoples Conference.He had contested the polls from ward No.14,18 and 65 of the SMC.Shortly after the election results, Peoples Conference Chairman Sajad Gani Lone in a tweet expressed satisfaction and said that PC Mayoral candidate registered victory. He tagged belligerent PDP leader Imran Raza Ansari, Junaid Azim Matoo and BJP leader Ram Madhav in his tweet.BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav in a tweet while congratulating Junaid Azam Matoo said that: “Junaid Mattoo, independent supported by Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference and BJP has won the Mayor post of Srinagar. He polled against the combined candidate of PDP, NC and Congress by 40 votes to 26 votes.
Congrats Junaid and Sajjad and all Corporators.Son of a prolific writer- Abdul Majeed Matoo, Junaid Azam Matoo hails from Barzulla area of Srinagar city. Junaid had schooling in Burn Hall School, after which he joined Bishop Cotton in Shimla. He got a scholarship to study in a Michigan State University in the United States. Junaid used to research for his father's books which are very useful references with regard to Kashmir history and freedom struggle.Mattu graduated with a degree in Business and Finance. He had also founded the World Kashmiri Students Association (WKSA), a global youth association for Kashmiris.After finishing studies from the United States, Mattu returned to Kashmir in 2009 to join mainstream politics. In his own words, he wrote in his blog, “I gave up my US Permanent Residence and job as a Financial Analyst in 2009 and returned to a resurgent Kashmir to be a part of change and empowerment.” In 2009, he started his political career with Sajjad Lone’s Peoples Conference (PC), going on to become party Srinagar District President in October 2011. After developing differences with Sajad Lone, Matoo quit the party and joined National Conference. He again returned to People’s Conference when National Conference decided to stay away from civic body polls. (CNS)