Reyaz Rashid
Baramulla: Two National Conference DDC members, whom senior Congress leader Taj Mohi-ud-din allegedly pinpointed for cross voting in District Development Council (DDC) chairperson polls in Baramulla, refuted the allegations and termed it an act of maligning their image.
Speaking to media in Baramulla, DDC members Shabir Ahmad Lone and Mohammad Ismail Khan of National Conference said, “We strongly deny the allegations that we were involved in cross voting. We followed the directions of our party leadership in letter and spirit and supported PAGD candidates in DDC polls.”
“If we voted for Vice Chairman and why didn’t we vote for chairperson candidate. These are false allegations by those who themselves indulge in cross voting,” said Shabir Ahmad Lone of Nadihal Rafiabad.
They further said that they strongly negate the allegations which are baseless and far from reality as it was secret ballot so nobody can be publically blamed.
Pertinently, after major embarrassment to the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) after its candidate lost District Development Council (DDC) chairperson polls due to cross voting in PAGD camp, allegations by senior Congress leader Taj Mohi-ud-din pinpointing the two National Conference DDC members for cross voting snowballed another controversy in PAGD camp.
Safeena Baig, an independent candidate backed by Peoples Conference and others, won the election for the post of chairperson of district development council (DDC) Baramulla while Sonullah Parrey of PC bagged the position of deputy chairperson.
In Baramulla DDC, which was reserved for women, Peoples Conference and independents had won three seats each while, NC, PDP, Congress and JKAP and won two seats each. Safina, who had got support of two members of JKAP and 3 members of PC, secured 10 votes as against four votes of PDP’s Qurat-ul-Bashir.
Due to cross-voting from Gupkar Alliance-Congress camp, Safina secured more votes. Surprisingly, for the vice chairman’s post there was no cross-voting as PC’s Sonaullah Parray and Independent Irfan Hafiz Lone secured seven votes each and Parray was declared winner after a draw of lots.
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