The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Saturday said it will unitedly contest the first ever District Development Council (DDC) polls in Jammu and Kashmir starting November 28.
The alliance that comprises National Conference, People Democratic Party, People’s Conference, Awami Ittehad, Awami National Conference, CPI(M) and J&K People’s Movement are fighting for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
On August 4, 2019, the six parties had signed a declaration at NC president and MP Farooq Abdullah’s residence at Gupkar Road in Srinagar in support of Article 370. The resolution was named the Gupkar Declaration.
Abdullah was on October 15 elected PAGD’s president while PDP president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was named as vice president and People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone as spokesperson.
The decision to contest the polls was announced by Lone at a press conference in Jammu after a meeting of PAGD leaders.
Lone said the names of the contestants would be announced by PAGD president after going through the new rules and modalities for elections in the Union Territory (UT).
“The PAGD has unanimously decided to contest the DDC elections unitedly despite the abruptness of polls in terms of its timing,’’ Lone said in presence of other PAGD leaders. “It is important that this sacred space in democracy is not allowed to be invaded and marauded by divisive forces,” he said.
The PAGD’s decision to contest elections came hours after the Congress in Jammu said it will contest the DDC polls.
JKPCC chief G.A. Mir said the Congress, which is the oldest party in the country, will not shy away from elections, and added that they will not leave the field open to the BJP.
Addressing a news conference, Mir said the Congress has serious concerns about the conduct of the polls and those issues have been put before the election authorities.
“There are concerns about security and disparity in the number of population between constituencies,’’ he said. “In some constituencies the population is more than a lakh and in some it is only a few thousands.”
He said the reservation criteria are also not followed properly.
Meanwhile, the police detained several supporters of right wing groups like IkkJutt Jammu, Shiva Sena and Rashtriya Bajrang Dal in Jammu after they staged a protest outside Farooq Abdullah’s residence at Bathinda when PAGD leaders were holding a meeting.
Observers opine that the PAGD has decided to contest the DDC polls to prevent the BJP from capturing power at the grassroots and to marginalise them further.
