Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party candidates were elected chairpersons of the newly elected District Development Councils of Srinagar and Shopian in the Kashmir valley while BJP candidates were elected in Jammu and Kathua districts and CPI(M) candidates bagged the post of Chairperson in the Kulgam district on Saturday.
With the election of DDC chairpersons in these five districts the pace of development in rural areas is expected to gain fresh momentum in the coming months. In Srinagar and Shopian Apni Party candidates defeated their nearest rivals from the Peoples' Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in a close contest.
District Election Officer (District Development Commissioner) Srinagar, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said Apni Party candidate Aftab Ahmad Malik won the post of Chairperson DDC Srinagar securing 10 votes while Malik’s rival bagged only three votes. Bilal Ahmad, also an Apni Party candidate for vice-chairperson post managed to secure nine votes while his rival from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Manzoor Ahmad Bhat bagged only four votes.
DEO Srinagar said that thirteen (13) out of the total fourteen (14) elected DDC members participated in the meeting. He said the elected member from Harwan-IV constituency could not take part in the meeting due to a health condition.
In Shopian, JKAP candidate Bilqees Akhtar, who had won DDC election from Zainapora-1 block, secured 8 votes while her rival candidate from PAGD secured 6.
The post of the vice-chairperson was decided through a draw of lots in favor of AP’s Irfan Manhas after a tie.
In Kulgam, all the 14 DDC members participated in the election process and elected Mohammad Afzal Parray as Chairperson (Party affiliation, CPIM) and Shazia Jan (Party affiliation National Conference) as Vice- Chairperson of the District Development Council, Kulgam.
President of the APNI party Syed Altaf Bukhari addressing a press conference in Srinagar extended thanks to the voters for reposing faith and giving them the opportunity to serve them.
In Jammu district, BJP candidate Bharat Bushan, former MLA and DDC member from Bhalwal was elected for the post of chairman and Suraj Singh, DDC member for Khour for vice chairman. The post of chairman in Jammu district is reserved for Scheduled Castes.
In Kathua district, the BJP candidate Col (Retired) Maan Singh, DDC member from Basohli was elected unopposed for the post of chairman and Ragunandan Singh alias Babloo, DDC member from Kathua, for vice chairman.All the elected candidates were later administered oath of office and secrecy by the district election officers respectively.