Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 15: With just few days left for electing the chairpersons of District Development Council (DDC) Boards focus has once again shifted on who will head these boards.
Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has won 110 seats and if all goes well the amalgam comprising of National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party, Peoples Conference and other parties, is likely to head the DDC boards in 13 districts while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that emerged has single largest party by winning 78 DDC constituencies will head the boards in six districts. In Srinagar district independents hold the key.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Since the day DDC election results have been declared speculations are rife that the candidates who had contested on the PAGD tickets are planning to shift their loyalties and many have already moved on. If this is true, then the results of the elections held for posts of DDC chairmen through secret ballot can spring a surprise.”
It’s in place to mention here that a few days ago cracks within the PAGD had become clearly visible after a senior leader of Peoples Conference, Imran Ansari, wrote a letter to PC chairman Sajad Gani Lone. Ansari in his letter questioned the decision of his leader to join the PAGD and accused the National Conference leadership of fielding proxy candidates in the recently held DDC polls. Vice-president of the PAGD, Mehbooba Mufti, tried to put a lid over the controversy by claiming that “All is Well” within the amalgam. “Amidst all the unnecessary speculation about PAGD, I’d like make a few things absolutely clear. The purpose of this grand alliance is not for petty electoral gains. It exists for a much larger cause & purpose i.e. to restore J&Ks special status,” Mehbooba had written on the twitter.
She had claimed that attempts were being made to “discredit” PAGD amongst the masses.
An observer said, “The PAGD top leaders are claiming that everything is alright but since the day DDC election results have been declared they have not met even once. If all is well within the PAGD then these leaders should meet and finalize the arrangement to head the DDC boards. There were rumours that the NC is demanding Lion’s share as it has won more than 65 DDC constituencies.”
He said, “It’s high time for these parties to put the speculations to rest and announce who are the candidates for DDC chairmen and their party affiliations.”
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