Constituents of alliance direct respective party leaders, workers to start field work
Gul Owais
Srinagar, Nov 9 : The political parties in Jammu and Kashmir under the banner of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) have started holding meetings across the Union Territory to identify the faces who will be contesting the forthcoming District Development Council (DDC), slated to be held from November 28.
The parties including National Conference (NC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference (PC), CPI (M), Awami National Conference (ANC), J&K Peoples Movement (JKPM) and others have unanimously decided to contest the forthcoming polls in J&K unitedly with an aim to keep what they termed as “invaders” away.
All the leaders have subsequently directed their second-rung leadership to hold district level meetings and identify fresh faces, who will be given tickets to contest the polls, sources told Precious Kashmir.
They further stated during the meetings, which started today, a couple of names were put forth by the workers for contesting the elections.
NC has also held a meeting today at its party headquarters in Nawa-e-Subha here, wherein discussion took place about the forthcoming polls, sources said, adding that PDP also held a meeting at its party headquarters in Srinagar wherein leaders discussed the issues and also appreciated the decision taken by the top mainstream leadership under the banner of PAGD.
Khurhseed Aalam, former MLC and PDP leader said a meeting was held this afternoon and the preparations for the polls after the decision taken by PAGD is going on.
“Alliance’s decision and subsequent reaction of BJP and its allies’ is tantamount to the fact that it was the right decision. They wanted to grab democratic institutions through a back door, but it was an attack on their designs. The decision taken by PAGD is in the interests of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that BJP was pinning a hope that the political parties would once again boycott, but the decision was taken aptly, which accommodates the aspirations of people.
NC General Secretary, Ali Muhammad Sagar said that BJP was hoping that political parties will boycott the polls so that they can grab the opportunity, but the decision taken by PAGD has left them guessing.
“People will also come to know why the decision to participate in the polls was taken. People are already aware what changes have been made so far in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, adding that the main issue of PAGD is to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. “It was necessary to be part of these polls,” he added.
Pertinently, the State Election Commissioner (SEC) K K Sharma announced the maiden DDC polls in Jammu and Kashmir from November 28.
PAGD braces up for DDC polls
