Five DDCs elect their chairperson and vice-chairperson in J&K; Here’s a list of who won where!
06-Feb-2021
In the first-ever elections for Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons in five district Development Councils across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that were held today, for the Jammu region BJP candidate Bharat Bhushan and Suraj Singh have been elected as Chairperson and Vice-chairperson respectively. In Srinagar, while Malik Aftab of JKAP secured 10 votes, Kaiser Ganai of NC followed him with 3 votes. The five districts where elections were held today included Jammu, Kathua, Srinagar, Shopian, and Kulgam. The exercise in all 20 districts will be completed before February 20.
First-ever elections for Chairpersons and Vice-Chairpersons in five DDCs across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, namely Jammu, Kathua, Srinagar, Shopian and Kulgam were held on Saturday.
In Kathua district, Col Maan Singh of BJP is elected as chairperson and Raghunandan Singh Bablu of BJP is elected as Vice-Chairperson of DDC unopposed.
BJP candidate from Jammu District Bharat Bhushan Bodhi has been elected as Chairperson and Suraj Singh of BJP elected as Vice-Chairperson for DDC Jammu.
In Srinagar, for the total of 14 votes, while 13 elected since one was absent, valid votes were counted as 13. Malik Aftab of Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) secured 10 votes and Kaiser Ganai of National Conference (NC) followed him with 3 votes.
While CPI (M) candidate was unanimously elected as first District Development Council (DDC) chairman of Kulgam district, National Conference (NC) bagged seats of DDC vice-chairman and Chairman Municipal Council.
Official sources told 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. National Conference Candidate Shazia Poswal, who won DDC elections from Manzgam's seat was elected as Vice Chairman unanimously.
The Jammu and Kashmir Apni party also won the chairman and vice-chairman posts in the Shopian district. As official sources told the news agency, KNO, JKAP candidate Bilqees Akhtar polled 8 votes while her rival candidate from PAGD secured 6 votes.
They added 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.” Bilqees Akhter of Watchi who had won DDC elections from Zainapora-1 block will be the first chairperson of Shopian while Irfan Manhas will be vice-chairperson.
Notably, both PAGD and AP had the support of seven DDC members each, however, one among PAGD members voted in favour of AP.
The maiden District Development Council (DDC) elections were held in November-December last year. As per the draft reservation notification, the seats reserved for women include Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kishtwar, Ramban and Shopian besides Poonch for Scheduled Tribe woman. Jammu and Udhampur districts have been reserved for Scheduled Castes and Anantnag and Rajouri for Scheduled Tribes.