Srinagar, Nov 22 (IANS) Bilal Lodhi, an independent candidate, contesting the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir from Badgam district in central Kashmir died of a heart attack here Saturday.Lodhi, 49, a militant turned politician, initially joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 1990s and was elected to the upper house of the state’s bicameral legislature as a PDP member.

He left the PDP early this year to join the regional National Conference (NC), but later decided to contest as an independent candidate from the Beerwah constituency in Badgam district after the NC denied him a nomination.

Officials here said he complained of severe chest pain and was rushed to a local hospital where attending doctors said he had died before reaching the hospital.

Beerwah constituency is scheduled to go to the polls in the fourth phase of the seven phase elections here Dec 7.