DCC Chairman Elections: PC pockets Kupwara as PC’s Irfan Sultan Panditpori elected as chairman and Haji Farooq Mir as vice chairman

Elections deferred in Baramulla as PAGD candidate and her supporting members abstain from voting to protest against ‘horse-trading’

DEO Baramulla issues fresh notice, election rescheduled on 13th February

Inayat Qayoom/Reyaz Rashid

Baramulla/Kupwara: DDC Chairman Election in Baramulla was deferred after PAGD candidate and her supporting members decided not to participate in the voting alleging horse-trading in Baramulla.

Election authorities in Baramulla were forced to defer the elections as PAGD candidate and her supporting members abstain from voting as they allege the election was being managed by horse-trading.

Senior Congress leader and DDC member from Uri Taj Mohi-ud-din told Kashmir Images  that there were apprehensions of horse-trading which proved true as one of the independent candidates was forced to support Safeena Beigh backed by Apani Party and People’s Conference.

“We abstain from voting to send the message loud and clear that we are one and are against any horse-trading,” said Taj-Mohi-ud-din.   

Sources said all seven members assembled in Baramulla at some location where they decided against going to the Dak Bunglow for voting.
They further said only seven members including Chairman Candidate Safeena Beigh, People’s Conference, Apni Party and an independent member had turned up at Dak Bunglow.

Later, District Election Officer Baramulla Mohammad Aijaz Asad,  issued notice  to defer the DDC elections.

The notice reads that the meeting regarding election for DDC chairperson and vice-chairperson in Baramulla that was scheduled on Monday has been adjourned due to lack of prescribed quorum.

According to District Election Officer Baramulla Mohammad Aijaz Asad, out of 14 DDC members only 07 members were present during the stipulated period for establishing quorum. 

Further DEO has issued a fresh notification in accordance with the sub-rule (6) of 108-ZN of Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Raj Rules, 1996 wherein the said election for the office bearers shall now be conducted on 13th of February, 2021 in dak bungalow at 11:00 am.

Meanwhile, in light of extant Rules in place, DEO has also cautioned that action, under rules, shall be initiated against any DDC member who remains absent from the meeting scheduled on above mentioned date. Pertinent to mention that Rules in this regard empower DEO to initiate action against those members who fail to attend subsequent meetings.

In the the election for  Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of  District Development Council (DDC), Kupwara which  was also held on Monday at DC office Kupwara, in presence of District Election Officer (DC Kupwara), Imam Din.

There are 13 DDC members in the district out of which 09 DDC members made their presence in the  scheduled election, which fulfilled the quorum limit of 2/3rd majority.

On the occasion, People’s Conference candidate Irfan Sultan Panditpori and Independent candidate,  Haji Farooq Mir submitted their nomination forms for Chairperson and  Vice-Chairperson  respectively and were declared winners unopposed.

Later, the District Election Officer  Kupwara, administered  oath to the newly elected Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.

SSP Kupwara, Shri Ram Ambarkar; ADC Kupwara,  Nazir Ahmad Lone; Dy. District Election Officer, Bashir Ahmad Bhat and concerned election staff were present at the occasion.

Pertinently, Apni Party decided to abstain from voting in the elections for chairperson and vice-chairperson of District Development Council (DDC) Kupwara while the party backed independent candidate Safeena Baigh for DDC chairperson .

 In a statement issued here, Shoaib Lone, Apni Party District President Baramulla said that while the party support Mrs. Baigh in the elections but it will abstain from voting for the post of vice chairperson in district Baramulla scheduled to be held on Monday.

 “Apni Party has taken these decisions to safeguard the interests of the people in district Kupwara and Baramulla. We have reiterated time and again that Apni Party stands for the interests of the people and we cannot support the people who have always been hoodwinking people through their misleading slogans,” Lone calimed.