Sajjad Lone’s party bags Kupwara chairman post

Independent wins in Budgam, polls in Baramulla deferred till February 13

SRINAGAR: The People’s Conference (PC), which recently separated from the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), won the posts of chairperson and vice-chairperson in Kupwara district development council (DDC) polls while an independent candidate bagged the top spot in Budgam on Monday. The Baramulla DDC chairperson polls were deferred to February 13 due to lack of quorum.

PC candidate Irfan Panditpuri was declared chirperson while Farooq Mir became his deputy. Lone, who had five members in the council in Kupwara, was also able to muster the support of independent members. Kupwara district is considered Lone’s stronghold and the party had won two seats from the dis

trict in the last assembly elections.

In Budgam, National Conference (NC) had the most members. However, the chairperson post was won by Nazir Ahmad Khan, who won the toss after there was a tie with both candidates getting seven votes.nazir Ahmad Jahara, another Independent, was elected the vicechairperson.

Khan, the son of former minister Sarafraz Khan had been People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP’S) district president. However, he was not given a ticket because of PDP’S alliance with the PAGD. He, therefore, contested as an independent candidate. It has been learnt that since as there were apprehension about horse-trading during these polls.

“Those who abstained are members from PDP, NC and Congress. I also abstained. Now, there will be new date for these elections.”

Of the eight districts, which had elected their chairpersons last week, the newly launched Apni Party won in Srinagar and Shopian, PAGD won in Kulgam while the two districts of Jammu were secured by the BJP.

NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar termed Apni party as the kings’ party supported by the Centre. “King’s party which won only 2 DDC seats in Shopian distt, engineered defections post elections and are now heading the DDC Council there. Similarly, in Srinagar, the party won just 3 seats and managed to take control of the district. Is ko bolte hai democracy is aisi ki taisi,” Dar tweeted.

However, Apni party spokesman Altaf Bukhari said that DDC members are joining them as they trust them more than other parties.