| After poll results, parties' focus shifts to forming majority for control of DDCs | | |
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Dec 24: Behind the scenes activities to choose the chairpersons of the maiden District Development Councils have gained momentum as both People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declration (PAGD) and the BJP are eyeing the districts that have no clear majority in the just concluded elections for the grassroots-level democratic institutions.
The PAGD has got a clear majority in six districts, followed by the BJP in five in the first-ever DDC election. However, the alliance of seven mainstream regional parties has got an edge over the saffron party in six other districts as it is just short of one or two seats for the majority, while the BJP is in the driver''s seat in one district.
Congress, on the other hand, can play the role of king-maker in the districts where there is no majority for any party even though it has ended up with only 26 seats across 20 districts – 10 each in the Kashmir valley and Jammu division -- and has already indicated that it is committed to “checkmate” the BJP wherever possible.
With the focus shifting on the selection of DDC chairpersons among the 14 elected representatives for each district, sources said hectic activities have started as both rival camps – PAGD and BJP -- are trying to garner the support of Independents to wrest control over maximum districts through their own chairpersons.
The PAGD, which among others includes regional heavyweights National Conference and PDP, swept the DDC polls by winning 110 seats, while the BJP emerged as the single largest party by getting 74 seats including three in the Kashmir valley. J&K Apni Party has won 12 seats, PDF and National Panthers Party (NPP) two each and BSP one.
Congress Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, when contacted by PTI, said no formal talks have been started with PAGD with whom it had entered into a seat sharing agreement before the DDC elections.
“The Government is yet to issue a notification as some seats have to be reserved for women, Scheduled Castes and Schedule Tribes… The process is to be completed within a month after the declaration of results,” Sharma said.
He, however, added, “As far as Congress is concerned, it is committed to checkmate the BJP wherever possible. But other non-BJP parties and independents, who are opposed to BJP''s policies, have to work simultaneously in that direction to prevent any horse trading or use of their party and government machinery by the ruling party.”
Sharma said the BJP has got clear majority only in five out of 20 districts whereas in rest of the 15 districts it''s non-BJP parties like Congress and others or Independents who can form the DDCs. |
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