NC-Cong have majority in 3, BJP to back Independents
Ind to have major say in Poonch DDC
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 11: Keen battle is on cards in four remaining districts of the Jammu region including Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch where election for the posts of chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the District Development Councils (DDCs) will be held in the final phase on February 13 as no party has clear majority in any of the DDCs.
Though National Conference and Congress together enjoyed majority in three districts including Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri, the BJP might field Independents for the post of chairpersonship to test the waters in these DDCs. Independents are, however, in majority in Poonch DDC but a clear picture is yet to emerge there too.
Kishtwar and Ramban districts are reserved for Women, Poonch is reserved for Scheduled Tribe Woman and Rajouri for Scheduled Tribe.
National Conference has already cleared names of Pooja Thakur for Kishtwar and Dr Shamshad Shan for Ramban while it today announced Naseem Liaquat, a DDC member from Budhal as its nominee for the post of chairman in Rajouri district. The Congress might field Nazia Ghani, ST woman winner from Dera Baba Nangali Sahib constituency and daughter of party’s district president Abdul Ghani, who is also DDC member from Poonch, as its candidate but a final call is yet to be taken. Another woman candidate, who has won from ST woman seat in Poonch as an Independent candidate, could jump into the fray for the DDC chairperson.
BJP president Ravinder Raina told the Excelsior that the party would support Independent candidates in Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri districts for the post of chairperson and would settle for vice chairpersonship in these districts in view of less number of seats of the party.
“We have three seats each in Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri districts. We will be backing the Independent candidates for chairpersonship and take the posts of vice chairpersons,” Raina said.
Insiders said the BJP with three members is in talks with three Independents in Ramban district to enforce contest there. National Conference with six seats and Congress two have already joined hands in Ramban DDC, which is reserved for woman and NC has named Dr Shamshad Shan for the post of chairperson.
In Rajouri district where NC has five members and Congress three, NC today approved the name of Naseem Liaquat, a DDC member from Budhal for the post of chairperson. Rajouri DDC is reserved for STs.
Former Minister and DDC member Shabir Khan of Congress said the party will decide tomorrow on contesting the election or supporting National Conference in the DDC Rajouri.
“PCC (I) chief GA Mir was busy with the DDC Anantnag elections and has reached Jammu today. We will take a call tomorrow,” Khan said.
There were reports that an Independent candidate could also jump into fray for the post of chairperson in Rajouri district, where BJP has three members, PDP and Apni Party one each. The PDP is likely to support the NC candidate.
In Kishtwar district, National Conference has six members on its own where it has cleared the name of Pooja Thakur for the post of chairperson. Kishtwar DDC is reserved for woman. The NC is banking on the support of two Independents though there are three Congress members too in the district. BJP too has three members in Kishtwar DDC.
“There could be interesting contest in all four DDCs on February 13 as election in six districts held so far was mere formality due to majority enjoyed by the BJP,” the political observers felt and said no single party is in majority in the four districts and, therefore, the battle could be tough especially in the wake of cross-voting in Budgam and some other districts.
All six districts in the Jammu region where elections have been held so far, the BJP has won chairpersonship of all six and vice chairpersonship in five. It lost the post of vice chairperson in Reasi district yesterday in the draw of lots to an Independent woman candidate.
The National Conference leadership was confident that it will win chairpersonship in three districts including Kishtwar, Ramban and Rajouri districts where it enjoyed majority either with the support of Congress candidates or Independents.
With election for the posts of chairpersons and vice chairpersons in four districts of Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts, the process of DDC elections will culminate.
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