SRINAGAR: The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, an amalgam of seven regional parties, nominated 27 candidates on Thursday for the first phase the of District Development Council polls.
The DDC polls will be the first major political activity in J&K since the nullification of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and will be held in eight phases from November 28. In the absence of an elected government in the Union Territory, these councils are set to become new units of governance in the region. Counting will take place on December 22.
The holding of DDC polls will complete the third tier of panchayats for the first time in the history of J&K as never in the past had the erstwhile state elected DDCs, which used to be headed by the CM and state Cabinet ministers.
Sajjad Lone’s Peoples Conference has fielded two candidates, from Rafiabad and Kralpora in north Kashmir, while three candidates were put up by PDP at Kunzar, in Baramulla, Kalaroos in Kupwara, and Keller-2 in north Kashmir. The rest of the 22 candidates were fielded by NC.
The J&K election commissioner has issued the notification for Phase III of the District Development Council polls alongside by-elections for vacant panch and sarpanch seats in the newly carved out Union Territory.
The constituencies to be covered under Phase III in Kashmir division, as per the notification, include Sangrama and Wavoora in Baramulla district, Kund in Kulgam district, Khoveripora and Hiller in Anantnag district, Pulwama-II and Aripal in Pulwama district, Hyhama and Qaziabad in Kupwara district, Sukhnag in Budgam district, Bonakot in Bandipora district, Shopian I and II and Ganderbal A, B and C.
The notification for Jammu division constituencies included Bounjwah and Nagseni in Kishtawar district, Bhaderwah East and West in Doda district, Gool in Ramban district, Mahore and Thuroo in Reasi district, Basholi and Bhillawar in Kathua district, Vijaypur A and B in Samba district, Bhalwal and Marh in Jammu district, Bhudal Old-A and Thanamandi in Rajouri district, and Loran and Mandi in Poonch district.
PAGD spokesman and PC chairman Sajad Gani Lone tweeted to say all approved candidates had filed their nomination papers. “I am tweeting this in response to some media reports of the list not having been issued yet,” Lone said.
The PAGD constituents unanimously decided to contest the upcoming polls jointly, but on their own party symbols, to stop divisive forces from making inroads into J&K.
The PAGD comprises the NC, PDP, Peoples Conference, CPM, CPI, ANC and JKPM.