Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has got its role of cutoff when it comes to deciding about Ganderbal assembly constituency.
As the Delimitation Commission has put the draft in public domain for objections, it is a definitely seen precursor to the elections possibly in the next few months alone.
While decision on whether PAGD contests together or who will get to fight from where including Ganderbal, the PDP surely would like to have its house in order as it gets to centre stage.
If sources in the party are to be believed, the PDP is faced with conundrum of sorts in deciding the candidate after party ‘giant killer’ Qazi Mohammad Afzal passed away. There is also a new equation on table after the delimitation commission, pending final outcome, has cut off six important Panchayat Halqas from Lar area of the central Kashmir constituency.
Some analysts believe that going by the last election when PDP and National Conference fielded candidates belonging to Lar area was unlikely this time around in view of the changing dynamics.
Sources said that a majority of rank and file of the PDP including those from Lar area and other parts want some “young and credible” face to bank on rather than old faces. “The elderly are important to guide the young men but it is important to field a young face in view of the changing dynamics. Gone are days when people would make it Lar Vs other parts in Ganderbal,” a local leader of the party said, adding, “Last election is testimony to the fact that the party faced defeat and banking on political turncoats, who wanted political survival, proved costly for it.”
A middle rung leader said that the entire rank and file was confident that the party would put a young leader as its face rather than “dull and stained.” “I am fiercely honest in my opinion and my suggestion to the party would be to have a candidate from outside Lar this time. I am vouching for it despite being a resident of Lar,” he said, adding, “we should not be divided as elections this time round are more on a different level and it is here where the party needs to give a clear message to rank and file. I hope that the party gets the measure of what people like me want to put across to the leadership.”
