NC leader quits to fight civic polls

Srinagar: National Conference ( NC) spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu on Tuesday resigned from the party over its decision to boycott the upcoming local body and panchayat elections. He will contest Srinagar civic polls.

National Conference ( NC) spokesperson Junaid Azim Mattu on Tuesday resigned from the party over its decision to boycott the upcoming local body and panchayat elections. He also said that he will contest the municipal polls from hometown Srinagar “to serve the people” and a formal announcement to this effect will be made on Wednesday.

“Based on my humble disagreement with the party’s decision to boycott the upcoming ULB and Panchayat Polls, I have just sent my resignation from the party to the JKNC general secretary,” Mr Mattu wrote on micro- blogging site Twitter.

In another tweet, he said, “I strongly believe that leaving our grassroots democratic institutions open to misrepresentation would inflict serious harm on the State and also wreak havoc with our social fabric and cultural legacy.”

The NC said that it was “pleased” to accept Mr Mattu’s resignation. The party’s twitter handle said, “J& K National Conference is pleased to accept the resignation of Junaid Azim Mattu from the basic membership of party”.

The NC had earlier this month announced that it will not participate in the local bodies and panchayat elections and may also boycott the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls “unless and until the State as well as the Central governments clear their position vis- àvis Article 35A in and outside the courts”.