186 new cases, 8 deaths in Punjab
So far, PAGD has managed to secure control of just one DDC in south Kashmir — Kulgam
CHANDIGARH: Eight more coronavirus fatalities pushed the toll to 5,661 in Punjab on Tuesday, while 186 fresh cases took the infection count to 1.75 lakh on Tuesday.
There are 2,077 active cases and 212 more patients recuperated, taking the number of recoveries to 1.67 lakh.
The 186 new cases include 49 in SBS Nagar, 27 in Ludhiana and 25 in Mohali. Seven critical patients are on ventilator support, while 85 are on oxygen support, the bulletin said.
A total of 46,25,667 samples have been collected for testing so far in the state, it said.
WITH 212 MORE PATIENTS RECOVERING, THE STATE IS NOW LEFT WITH 2,077 ACTIVE CASES
SRINAGAR : The win in Kupwara district development council (DDC) chairperson polls and supporting a joint candidate in Baramulla, may be indicative of Sajjad Lone’s People’s Conference (PC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) joining hands against the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), opine political experts in the valley.
So far, PAGD has managed to win control of just one DDC in south Kashmir — Kulgam. Apni Party won in Srinagar and Shopian districts while independent candidate Nazir Khan secured the chairman seat in Budgam. Khan, a former PDP district member, was denied the ticket by PAGD, so he contested the polls independently.
While JKAP’s DDC members voted for PC candidates in Kupwara district, Lone’s party, which has three DDC members in Baramulla, has decided to support independent candidate Safeena Baig, wife of former MP Muzaffar Baig. Surprisingly, Apni Party, which has two DDC members in Baramulla, will also be backing Safeena and the PC candidate for the deputy chairperson post.
However, the absence of seven members on the day of election in Baramulla forced the deputy commissioner to postpone the polls to February 13. BJP’s lone candidate in Srinagar had already voted for Apni Party in Srinagar.
PC spokesman Adnan Ashraf said that the party is only concerned about Baramulla and Kupwara districts.
“Kupwara we have won and hopefully the deputy chairperson in Baramulla will also be a PC member.” He, however, said it was not clear whether Safeena after winning the chairperson post would join PC or not. “We are supporting Safeena, and so is Apni Party. Things will be clear once results are out,” said Ashraf.
Apni Party spokesman Javeed Baig claimed that doors were open for all to join the Altaf Bukhari-led party. “If he (Altaf Bukhari) wishes, he can win most of the DDC chairman posts in Kashmir.” Baig said people who blame Apni Party for having an alliance with the BJP have themselves formed governments with the BJP.
“People join and support our party because we tell them the truth,” he said.
Meanwhile, NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said that the BJP and its allies were undermining all norms in the elections to DDC chairpersons and deputy chairpersons.
“The way the administration was playing partisan to curry favour with the ruling party and their stooges have also raised a question mark on the partiality of the entire process. These parties, having failed to make a mark in the DDC polls, were now employing different means to make up the numbers with little understanding of the longterm consequences on the prospects of democracy in the region.
Asem Bhat, a political analyst, said that Sajjad Lone’s party and JKAP along with Muzaffar Baig could form a new front in north Kashmir. “This poses a direct threat to the PAGD, while the possibility of forging ties with the BJP can’t be ruled out either,” he said.