PAGD struggles to release 7th list of DDC candidates over reports of ‘proxy candidates’
Vote will go to PAGD candidates, don’t know anything about proxy candidates: Farooq Abdullah
Srinagar, : People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration has failed to release 7th list of candidates for ongoing District Development Council Polls due to lack of consensus among parties.
Sources informed KNS that despite days of hectic and tough deliberations and negotiations, the seven parties Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) have failed to reach consensus on seat sharing.
The first-ever DDC polls, along with by-elections for vacant panchayat and urban local bodies (ULBs) seats are being held in eight phases in J&K, beginning November 28. The last phase of 8- phase poll would be held on December 19 and counting would take place on December 22
These elections will be the first major political activity and electoral exercise in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5 last year, when Centre abrogated Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcated J&K state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature), and Ladakh (without legislature).
Sources revealed to KNS that reports of some proxy candidates supported by senior leaders in their respective areas is becoming a major issue in finalizing the seventh list.
However PAGD leadership negated the fissures in the alliance and said a seventh list would be shared in coming days.
When KNS contacted PAGD President Dr Farooq Abdullah, he said, “Only alliance candidates will get a vote. Rest we have nothing to do with proxy candidates.”
Earlier also reports of fissures in alliance was reported in a section of press after the release of the first list of candidates. Later a meeting of the amalgam was chaired by Dr Farooq Abdullah to sort out the issue. The development happened after the resignation of PDP patron Muzafar Hussain Beigh. He had charged NC of taking lion’s share and accused PDP of maintaining silence over the issue.
A senior leader had said that the members reaffirmed the cause of PAGD beyond the polls and stressed on the unity at the critical juncture.
Mehbooba Mufti on seat sharing had also clarified in a tweet: “We have a bigger cause to fight for than bicker over DDC elections. PAGD was formed solely to safeguard the identity of people of J&K that’s been under constant attack since Aug 2019. To assume it was created for petty electoral gains or to further party interests is erroneous. We have a bigger cause to fight for than bicker over DDC electionsJK Peoples Conference chief and former minister in PDP-BJP government Sajjad Gani Lone had seconded it. “I agree with every word and would further add that the reality as it exists is that statesmanship and magnanimity is still a missing trait in our polity. And the absence is being felt more than any other time,” he said
