Close contest between PAGD and Apni Party in Shopian DDC Chairperson election

Shopian: A close contest is expected in the DDC chairperson election in Shopian district today as both the PAGD and the Apni party have support of seven members each.

Quoting an unnamed senior PDP leader, KNO reported that PAGD is expecting chairperson seat and if they manage to get it, two women DDC candidates of National Conference will get the term of 2 and half years and vice-chairperson will be from People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

He said that for the first two and half years, Safiya Akhther who has won DDC elections on NC ticket will be chairman and former MLA Watch, Aijaz Ahmad Mir, will be the vice-chairman.

“I can’t say who will win, however, if the chairperson will be from Apni Party, that will be Bilkeesa Akhtar,” Zaffar Manhas, senior leader of the Apni Party said.

He also said that Irfan Manhas will be their candidate for the vice-chairperson post.

Pertinently, at present both the PAGD and Apni Party have the support of seven candidates each and if both will get 7 votes each, chairperson will be decided through a draw of lots.

In Shopian, out of the 14 seats, 4 each won by NC and independent candidates. PDP, Apni Party and Congress got 3, 2 and 1 seats respectively.

Later, 3 out of 4 independents besides one each from NC and Congress joined the Apni party and one independent candidate joined NC. (KNO)