In an attempt to offset pressure from the Congress, its ally in the Jammu and Kashmir government, to give up the Baramulla parliamentary seat, the Peoples Democratic Party announced its candidate for the constituency late Saturday night.

The state Congress had been mounting pressure on the PDP to leave the seat for its candidate.

However, the PDP in a surprise move nominated Nizam-ud-Din Bhat as its candidate. Party leader Mehbooba Mufti made the announcement.

Mehbooba said in Srinagar that her candidate had a fair chance of winning the seat and "it was because of this logical analysis that the party wanted to fight on its own in the constituency".