Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari
Addressing a felicitation cum interactive session with DDC members, independent affiliates and the unsuccessful contestants of the Party’s Kashmir province at its office in Lal Chowk Srinagar, Bukhari congratulated the people of J&K for their overwhelming participation in the DDC elections exemplifying the level of their commitment to a vibrant democracy.
He said the recently concluded elections should be a reason for the Government of India to ponder over and explore viable possibilities for J&K’s progressive, respectful and accommodative association while restoring Statehood and preserving the peoples’ domicile rights on their land and jobs.
A National Conference leader has switched to a party close to the BJP soon after winning the District Development Council election, prompting former chief minister Omar Abdullah to allege that money, muscle, threats and coercion were being used to facilitate horse-trading and defections.
Omar’s National Conference is part of the seven-party People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration, which has won the highest number of seats in the DDC elections 110 out of 280. The alliance is in a position to take control of 13 of the 20 districts of Jammu and Kashmir, at some places with Congress help. Rival BJP, which has bagged 75 seats, can take control of six districts while Independents hold sway in Srinagar district.
Tasavur Mushtaq
SRINAGAR: Though politics has nothing to do with horses, but horse-trading has always been an act of politics. Usually witnessed after the assembly election results elsewhere, Kashmir is an exception, this time too.
On Wednesday, following the District Development Council (DDC) election results in which independent candidates emerged as “game changers”, particularly in Kashmir, there are allegations that “force is being used to influence them and buy the loyalty.”
Hitting the right-wing party, its “proxies” and the administration, former two chief ministers have alleged that the “independent candidates are being contacted and coerced to join them.”
An ex-MLC of @JKNC from South Kashmir has been taken away by the police to stop him contacting the independent DDC members elected in his district. At the same time the authorities are taking the trouble to transport some of these independents to Srinagar for “discussions”.