CPI (M), JKAP bag DDC Chairperson posts

SRINAGAR — CPI (M) candidate was on Saturday unanimously elected as first District Development Council (DDC) chairman of Kulgam district while as National Conference (NC) bagged seats of DDC vice-chairman and chairman Municipal Council.

Official sources said that CPI (M) candidate Mohammad Afzal, who is also District Secretary CPI (M) and won DDC elections on Pombai seat, was unanimously elected as the first DDC chairman of Kulgam as he was supported by all the 13 candidates.

They said National Conference candidate Shazia Poswal, who won DDC elections from Manzgam seat, was elected as vice-chairman unanimously.

Besides, in Municipal elections, NC got the seat of chairman Municipal Council as well, they added.

Meanwhile, CPI (M) senior leader and former MLA Kulgam, M Y Tarigami in a tweet congratulated the winning candidates and thanked the candidates for their unanimous support.

“Congratulations to Comrade M Afzal of our party CPIM for being elected as DDC chairman of district Kulgam and Shazia Jan of NC as vice-chairman. We thank and appreciate the cooperation of all the elected DDC members of Kulgam for consensus and unanimity,” Tarigami tweeted.

PAGD faces defeat in Srinagar as JKAP candidates emerge victorious

The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) on Saturday faced defeat in the election for the post of chairperson of District Development Council (DDC) in Srinagar.

Apni Party candidate, Aftab Malik, bagged 10 votes while Malik’s rival bagged only three votes.

Bilal Ahmad, Apni Party’s 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.

Notably, BJP’s lone DDC member from Srinagar, Ajaz Hussain also supported JKAP candidates for both the posts.

JKAP wins chairperson, vice-chairperson posts in Shopian

The Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party on Saturday won the chairman and vice-chairman posts in the DDC chairperson elections in Shopian district.

Official sources said that JKAP candidate Bilqees Akhtar polled eight votes while her rival candidate from PAGD secured six votes.

They said that the vice-chairman post was decided through a draw of lots as there was a tie. “The vice-chairman post was also won by JKAP.”

They said that Bilqees Akhter of Watchi had won DDC elections from Zainapora-1 block and will be the first chairperson of Shopian while Irfan Manhas will be vice-chairperson.

It is pertinent to mention here that both PAGD and JKAP had support of seven DDC members each, however, one among PAGD members voted in favour of JKAP.