DDC Chairmen Election: NC suffers jolt in Budgam, PC’s Irfan wins in Kupwara

Election for Baramulla chairman deferred due to lack of quorum

Srinagar, Feb 8: The Peoples Conference secured the post of chairperson in District Development Council (DDC), Kupwara while National Conference suffered a major jolt in central Kashmir’s Bugdgam district, where PDP’s district president who contested as an independent candidate, won the key post.

The election for the DDC chairperson and vice chairperson in Baramulla was adjourned and deferred due to lack of quorum.

The PDP district president Nazir Ahmad Khan, who contested the DDC polls as independent candidate was elected as chairperson and NC’s  Nazir Ahmad Jahara Vice Chairperson of DDC Budgam.

An official said there was a tie between Nazir and NC’s Abdul Ahad Dar as both secured 7 votes.

“A draw of lots was held in which Nazir Ahmad Khan was declared as successful, thus elected as Chairman DDC Budgam,” he said.

In Budgam DDC, NC had won absolute majority by winning 8 out of 14 seats. The independents have won two seats, PDF 2 seats while PDP and JKPM won one seat each.

Later, DPEO administered the oath to both the Chairperson and Vice- Chairperson.

PC’s Irfan Panditpuri was unanimously elected as DDC chairperson in Kupwara.  The post of vice chairperson was bagged by an independent candidate Haji Farooq, who was backed by PC.

The four members of National Conference (NC) remained absent from the proceedings.

According to DEO Kupwara, out of 13 DDC members in the district, 9 members made their presence in the scheduled election, which fulfilled the quorum limit of 2/3rd majority.

The NC, however, alleged that district administration Kupwara flawed all norms in the elections by playing a partisan role to engineer a particular outcome.

“The predetermined time for elections was set from 11 am to 1 pm and during that time, elections process couldn’t be initiated due to lack of required quorum pending which election process was adjourned,” an NC spokesman said.

He said DDC chairperson and deputy chairperson were then held in a veil of secrecy at around 2.00, much later after the stimulated time slot was fixed for the exercise. “The proceedings were eventually initiated  after administration got hold of the independent DDC. The way the entire exercise was carried out raises serious question mark on the partiality of elections”.

Meanwhile,  election for chairperson and vice- chairperson of Baramulla DDC was adjourned due to lack of quorum.

Official sources as against the requirement of 10 members, only seven were present in Baramulla. “Those present included Safina Baig (Independent), Muhammad Muzaffar( independent), three members from Peoples Conference and two from Apni Party”.

Those who abstained included two members each from NC, PDP, Congress and independent Irfan Hafiz Lone.

Going by rules governing election for chairperson/vice-chairperson of DDCs, the quorum for first meeting of chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be two-third of the  elected members.

However, the quorum for second and subsequent election meetings will be eight in Baramulla district as rules mandate that election will take place if only simple majority is present.

The DEO has issued a fresh notification in accordance with the sub-rule (6) of 108-ZN of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Rules, 1996 wherein the said election for the office bearers shall now be conducted on 13th of February, 2021 in dak bungalow at 11 am.

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