Srinagar: The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of seven political parties in Jammu and Kashmir seeking restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status, announced the seat-sharing arrangement for the first phase of the maiden District Development Council (DDC) polls in the Union Territory on Thursday, but did not release the names of the candidates.
The seat-sharing arrangement was shared with the media after the candidates of the constituent parties of the alliance filed their nomination papers, the last date for which was Thursday.
The PAGD, which has the National Conference (NC), People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Peoples Conference as its main constituents, was formed last month to fight for the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was revoked by the Centre in August last year.
The members of the alliance announced last week that they would unitedly fight the DDC polls, which will be held for the first time in the Union Territory.
The PAGD seat-sharing list was approved by NC president Farooq Abdullah, who is the chairman of the alliance.
Out of 24 seats going to polls in first phase, JKPC has got 2 and JKPDP 3. Rest have gone to JKNC’s kitty.
The alliance, however, did not reveal the names of the candidates contesting the first phase of the polls.
A PAGD leader said given the paucity of time, the names of the candidates could not be shared.
“We all had to work at a breakneck speed. We will update the names of the candidates later because they were busy with the filing of nominations today,” he said.
The PAGD has decided to put up joint candidates of its constituent parties in the election, but will contest on the respective party symbols as a single symbol could not be granted to the alliance.
In an announcement on his Twitter handle, the PAGD spokesperson Sajad Gani Lone wrote: “PAGD candidates approved for the first phase have already filed their papers. List was conveyed to the parties. I am tweeting this in response to some media reports of the list not having been issued yet.”
Later, he tweeted the list of the seats of different parties who will contest the polls for the first phase. “List of the candidates approved by PAGD for phase I of DDC polls,” he wrote on Twitter.
However, the list only suggests which party is contesting which segment and doesn’t carry the name of the contestants.
The polls to the DDCs will be held in eight phases from November 28 to December 24, according to a notification issued by the State Election Commission. The counting will take place on December 22.
Box 2
Filing of nominations ends
JAMMU: The Period for filing of nominations to the District Development Councils (DDCs), Panchyat By elections ended on Thursday, according to the statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Sate Election Commissioner.
“As many as 2473 nominations have been received which include 352 for DDCs, 360 for Sarpanches and 1761 for Panches till last reports came. These include nominations from all major national and local parties,” the spokesman said adding that the last date for withdrawal of nominations for phase one is 16th November 2020.
“For the first phase of DDC elections, a total number of 2644 polling stations shall be set up and there shall be 703620 Electors for this phase,” the spokesman said.
“In Kashmir division, 183 nominations in 25 constituencies in DDCs and in Jammu division 169 nominations have been received against 18 constituencies in DDCs,” the spokesman added.
