The People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) -- an alliance which includes National Conference (NC), Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), CPI(M), Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (PC), Jammu and Kashmir People's Movement (JKPM) and Awami National Conference (ANC) -- has on Saturday decided to fight the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections unitedly.
PC President and PAGD spokesperson Sajad Lone took to Twitter and said, "The PAGD has unanimously decided to fight the DDC elections unitedly." "Despite the abruptness of the DDC elections in terms of timing it is important that this sacred space in democracy is not allowed to be invaded n marauded by divisive forces," he added.
Elections to the DDCs and vacant posts of sarpanch and panch will be held in eight phases from December 1 to December 24, according to a notification issued by the State Election Commission on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Congress party will also take part in the DDC elections in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
"The Congress with an open heart is going to put up its best candidates for the upcoming DDC elections to fight the wrong and unconstitutional policies of the BJP which has left the people of Jammu and Kashmir unhappy," Jammu and Kashmir Congress President G A Mir said.
He also said mainstream parties that are demanding the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir are not against the country or its people but their "fight is against the wrong policies" of the BJP.
Mir appealed to the people to vote in the upcoming elections and said that "the people of Jammu and Kashmir are politically mature and they will use this opportunity".
"The Congress will put forth the best of its candidates who are pro-people," he said, adding that it was his party which introduced three-tier Panchayati Raj in the country.
However, Mir said that there are serious concerns, especially with regard to the security of candidates.
"We demand that there should be no back door entry and security concerns are also needed to be addressed to ensure free and fair elections. The focus should be on sensitive areas where extra measures need to be taken," he said. The Congress has already raised these concerns with the Election Commission, Mir said.
(With PTI inputs)
