PDP to give tickets to all former legislators who won in 2014

DISSIDENCE Hunting for candidates in Pattan, Zadibal, Gulmarg

›

It was conveyed to all former legislators who remained loyal with the party, that they will be given party tickets.They are already working in their constituencies to garner public support for election. SENIOR PDP LEADER SAID

SRINAGAR: To contain dissidence especially from former lawmakers, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decided to give tickets to all the former legislators who got elected on the party ticket in the previous elections.

Six legislators including four former ministers resigned from the party soon after governor Satya Pal Malik dissolved the assembly in September. Former ministers and legislators Imran Reza Ansari, Abid Ansari and Abas Wani joined Peoples Conference, while Bashaarat Bukhari had joined the National Conference. Haseeb Drabu and Javeed Mustafa Mir, who had won the 2014 elections on a PDP ticket in the previous assembly elections, have not joined any party.

However, there are reports that both politicians could join any party or contest as independent candidates. “It was conveyed to all former legislators who remained loyal with the party, that they will be given party tickets. They are already working in their constituencies to garner public support for the election,” a senior PDP leader, requesting anonymity, said.

The PDP leadership has already started looking for potential candidates for constituencies of former lawmakers who had resigned from the party.

The party is finding it difficult to find candidates who could give tough competition to opponents, in areas like Pattan, Zadibal and Gulmarg. However, the party has already found strong candidates at Rajpora (Pulwama), Sangrama (Baramulla) and Chadoora (Budgam) assembly segments.

In the by elections, NC president, Farooq Abdullah defeated the PDP candidate in an election which was marred with violence and low voting percentage in 2017.

Anantnag Lok Sabha seat was vacated by Mehbooba Mufti in 2016 after she won elections from Anantnag.

“We are still looking for potential candidates who can put a tough fight and also retain the seats which were won by the party. The deliberations are still on within the party,” the senior PDP leader said.