Srinagar: Cracks have started widening in the People Democratic Party, as a party leader has filed nomination papers for the upcoming District Development Council (DDC) elections from central Kashmir’s Budgam district, where Peoples Alliance For Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an amalgam of seven mainstream parties, including PDP has also fielded a candidate from National Conference.
Much to the embarrassment to the Mehbooba Mufti led PDP; the party’s District President for Beerwah, Nazir Khan filed his nomination papers at DIET Beerwah as an independent candidate on Monday. Khan accused NC Vice-President Omar Abdullah of sabotaging his candidature as a PAGD candidate.
“Omar Abdullah played politics and without informing Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti nominated NC candidate, who has no ground in Beerwah, just to weaken my position,” Khan said.
Khan became second independent candidate after Akhtar Ali from Hayatpora Beerwah who is also in the fray. Besides Khan and Ali, there is PAGD’s candidate Muhammad Ashraf Lone from Poonchgund, BJP’s Showkat Wani from Loolipora, and PDF candidate Javaid Beigh from Sonpah Beerwah.
“Omar Abdullah played a game. PAGD knew it well that I have strong ground in Beerwah. I have support of Narbal and Beerwah BDC’s while BDC Khag was also my supporter who was killed in a militant attack,” Khan added.
When asked if he was going against his own party’s seat sharing agreement, Khan said there was no merit in the People’s Alliance.
“I do believe in PAGD and support its stand, but the way Omar Abdullah backstabbed me and played politics has badly hurt me. PADG has fielded a weak candidate and I think Omar wants BJP should win Beerwah seat,” he said.
Khan claimed that he received ‘Authority Letter’ from PDP at 8pm on Sunday night but The NC VP changed the list of PAGD candidates.
A local news agency KNT quoting sources reported that during a PAGD meeting that was held on Sunday at the residence of Farooq Abdullah, it was unanimously decided to field PDP’s Nazir Khan from Beerwah for DDC polls.
“PDP even handed over an authority letter to Khan, but to the shock of Khan, his name was missing from the list published by PAGD,” sources added.
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