news details |
|
|
| Sajjad Lone is gearing up for urban local bodies' polls now | | From separatism to parliamentary elections; | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 13: With state government having decided to hold municipal elections in coming months, Sajjad Lone, chairman of faction of people's conference after getting defeat in parliamentary elections in 2009 is preparing for urban local bodies polls to field his candidates from various municipal segments in and around Srinagar city besides various towns in other districts of the valley.
Son of slain separatist leader Abdul Ghani Lone, 44 year old Sajjad Lone contested the parliamentary elections in 2009 defying his elder brother Bilal Lone, a Hurriyat leader and many other separatist leaders. Sajjad contested from his home constituency Baramulla in north Kashmir as independent candidate but lost miserably coming at third place with 65,000 votes. While National Conference candidate Sharifuddin Shariq registered the biggest victory margin for the party. PDP candidate Mohammad Dilawar Mir came second.
Justifying his joining parliamentary polls ,Sajjad Lone had said that he would like raise the Kashmir issue in the Indian parliament. Now Sajjad Lone has decided to field his candidates for local bodies' elections to better the civic situation of the valley .
The government, which is contemplating to hold municipal elections on party basis, has to increase the municipal wards in the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar as per the new census figures. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has become eligible for increase of its wards from existing 65 to 75.
The state government could not hold the municipal elections in 2010 due to unrest .The term of the local bodies had come an end in march 2010. Last elections to the ULBs were held in 2005 after a gap of about 26 years. Chairman of faction of Peoples Conference Sajad Lone is nowadays attracting the panchs and surpanch towards party to help his candidates in coming municipal elections.
Lone on Wednesday advised the ruling National Conference and Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to redefine the role of MLAs and stop clipping the powers of the Panchayats.
A PC spokesman said a group of two dozen workers from the Zaingeer Block, Sopore in north Kashmir called on Sajad Lone and expressed their desire to join the party. They were welcomed by the PC chairman into the party fold, the spokesman added.
Sajjad Lone on the occasion said, "The MLA, under the prevailing system, interferes in allocation of drains, retaining walls, issuing IAY and recommending people as helpers in the Aaganwari system. This has in essence translated into linking poverty alleviation schemes to the vote. Thus the local MLA has emerged as the new monarch punishing those who voted against him and rewarding those who voted in favour. The Panchayati system comparatively is in sync with ground realities, is a decentralized system and has checks and balances in the form of collective decision making by Panchs and Sarpanchs."
Sajad said that it's an undeniable fact that the institution of Panchayats had polled more votes than the institution of the assembly. "Why is the majority vote of the Panchayat treated with such disdain and contempt by the comparatively minority vote of the Assembly.," sajjad said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
