In a major political development, the newly formed People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration on Saturday decided to contest the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) polls unitedly in Jammu & Kashmir.
The eight phase DDC polls are scheduled to take place between November 28 and December 19 amid tight security arrangements along with bypolls on the vacant seats of urban local bodies in J&K.
It is for the first time the Kashmir-based regional parties, considered arch rivals, have decided to contest any polls under the same banner.
The alliance was earlier founded to carry forward their “constitutional” fight for the restoration of Article 370 and 35-A in Jammu & Kashmir.
The announcement was made by the spokesman of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), Sajad Gani Lone, soon after the maiden meeting of all the constituents ended here in Jammu on Saturday. During the day several delegations from Jammu met these leaders at the residence of Farooq Abdullah and shared their assessment of the prevailing political situation in the region.
Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also announced that it will contest the DDC polls.
“The PAGD has unanimously decided to fight the DDC elections unitedly. Despite the abruptness of the DDC elections in terms of timing it is important that this sacred space in democracy is not allowed to be invaded and marauded by the divisive forces”, Sajad Lone said while reading out a brief statement in the presence of senior leaders Dr Farooq Abdullah, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti, Omar Abdullah, Muzaffar Hussain Shah of Awami National Conference, MY Tarigami of CPI(M) and Javaid Mustafa Mir of the People’s Movement.
Lone said that all the modalities and new administrative rules will be looked into and the alliance president Dr Farooq Abdullah will declare the names of contestants on his own. Interestingly, none of the leaders responded to the media queries and dispersed.
Addressing a news conference in Jammu, Mir said that after consultation with all the leaders of Congress party from different districts, they have decided to contest the upcoming DDC polls. He said Congress is the oldest party in J&K and it has never stayed away from the democratic process.
“We will not give a free field to BJP in the DDC polls,” he said, adding that the Congress party has some serious concern regarding the conduct of DDC polls in J&K and all these issues were put up before the State Election authorities.
“There are some security concerns also and we have forwarded all our concerns before higher authorities and state election authorities, who have assured us that these issues will be looked into,” he said.
On the other hand, newly appointed National General Secretary of the BJP, in-charge of J&K affairs Tarun Chug Saturday chaired a meeting of BJP leaders in Jammu to take stock of the situation ahead of DDC polls.
Addressing a press conference here at party headquarters he made it clear under no circumstances Article 35-A will be restored in Jammu & Kashmir. He also labeled the People’s Alliance for Gupkar declaration a group of “day dreamers.”
While responding to a direct question over People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, Chug termed it as a day dreamer’s group, adding that these leaders are exploiting people of Jammu and Kashmir through a bundle of lies. “There is no chance of restoration of Article 35-A in Jammu & Kashmir.” Chug said.
Regarding rehabilitation policy for militants, BJPs national general secretary said that “we will not talk to anybody holding guns and those holding guns have only one place and that is grave.”
He added that a long plan for development of Jammu & Kashmir is in offing and the Government is working on it.
