Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference on Friday became the first regional party to announce its participation in the coming urban local bodies and panchayat polls in J&K. “The Peoples Conference will take part in the upcoming elections. But given the rules, we won’t have a common symbol,” he tweeted.
BJP ally
Mr. Lone became an ally of the BJP after the 2014 polls and served as a Minister with portfolios of Animal Husbandry, Social Welfare and Renewable Energy.
Unlike the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference, Mr. Lone, son of assassinated Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone, maintained a studied silence on the issues of Article 35A, which defines State-subject laws, and the special status of J&K.
The PDP and the NC boycotted the polls accusing the Centre of linking Article 35A with upcoming polls before the Supreme Court, which is hearing a number of petitions challenging the Article.
The CPI(M), the JD(U), the BSP, the Awami National Party and the Democratic Party Nationalist also decided to stay away from these elections. So far, the Congress and the BJP have decided to field candidates in the polls, which will start from October 8 for urban local bodies.