Both posts of Samba DDC go to BJP unopposed
*4 distts to see voting in last phase on Feb 13
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: The BJP continued its winning spree in the elections for chairpersons taking top posts in Reasi and Samba District Development Councils (DDCs) today but dramatically lost the post of vice chairman to an Independent candidate in Reasi after tie of votes. With this phase of election over, the BJP has won chairpersonship of all six DDCs where the elections have been held so far.
Kishtwar, Ramban, Poonch and Rajouri districts will go to polls in last and final phase on February 13. Click here to watch video
BJP’s Saraf Singh Nag and Independent Advocate Sajra Qadir were elected as chairperson and vice chairperson respectively in the Reasi DDC while BJP’s Keshav Sharma and Balwan Singh were elected unopposed for the two top posts in Samba DDC.
In keenly contested election for the top posts of Reasi DDC, BJP’s DDC member from Bhomag Saraf Singh Nag was elected as chairman with nine out of 14 votes while National Conference candidate Babu Jagjivan Lal, former Minister, backed by Congress and Independent, polled five votes.
However, for the post of vice chairperson, BJP DDC member from Jij Bagli Abdul Rashid lost to Opposition backed Independent candidate and young Advocate Sajra Qadir in the draw of lots. Both of them polled seven votes each after which the draw was held and Sajra Qadir emerged winner.
BJP had seven seats in Reasi followed by National Conference three, Apni Party two, Congress and Independent one each.
While there were no official comments, political observers said the two members of Apni Party were reported to have voted for the post of chairman to see the BJP candidate through but cast their votes for the post of vice chairperson in favour of Independent candidate Sajra Qadir. This was also evident from the fact that Saraf Singh polled nine votes, two more than the BJP’s strength in the Reasi DDC while Abdul Rashid got seven, which was equal to the BJP’s numbers.
It may be mentioned here that the BJP had supported Apni Party for the post of chairman in Srinagar District Development Council (DDC).
Saraf Singh Nag had quit Jammu Kashmir Administrative Services (JKAS) to join politics in 2014. He contested the Assembly election from Reasi Assembly seat in 2014 as an Independent candidate but lost by just 200 votes. He won the DDC election from Bhomag by handsome margin.
Advocate Sajra Qadir is Law Graduate from Jammu University and theatre artist. She had won the DDC election as an Independent candidate from Gulabgarh constituency. She is theatre artist as well for past 15 years and daughter of well known Urdu and Dogri poet Abdul Qadir Kundria.
In Samba DDC, BJP member from Ramgarh Keshav Sharma and his party colleague Balwan Singh from Sumb constituency were elected chairman and vice chairman respectively unopposed.
The BJP has 13 members in House of 14 for the Samba DDC.
Sharma’s name was proposed by Avtar Singh, BJP member from Purmandal and seconded by Sarvjeet Singh Johal of Ramgarh while that of Balwan Singh was proposed by Subash Bhagat of Samba and seconded by Asha Rani of Rajpura constituency.
Lone Opposition member in Samba District Development Council is from National Conference.
With today’s election in two DDCs in Jammu, the BJP has won the post of chairperson in all six DDCs where election has been held in first three phases so far and the post of vice chairperson in five. The BJP now rules Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi and Doda districts.
Election for top posts in four remaining District Development Councils (DDCs) including Kishtwar, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts is scheduled to be held on February 13 in fourth and final phase.
In all four districts where election is scheduled for February 13, no political party has clear majority.
In Kishtwar district, National Conference has six seats, BJP and Congress three each and there are two Independents while in Ramban district, NC has six seats, BJP three, Congress two and three others are Independents. In Poonch there are eight Independents, four Congress members and two from National Conference.
In Rajouri district, NC has five seats, Congress and BJP three each, PDP, Apni Party and Independent one each.
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