Srinagar: Two candidates from the minority Sikh community on Tuesday won the District Development Council (DDC) elections in the restive Tral sub-district in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dr Harbakash Singh, popularly known as Shanty defeated his nearest rival Trilok Singh of Congress by a margin of over by 982 votes. A resident of Kavil village in Tral sub-district, Harbakash started his political career as a student and was provincial president of NSUI Kashmir for many years. He has also served as PRO to senior PDP leader and former cabinet minister Naeem Akhkter for four years during the PDP-BJP coalition government.
Complimenting the Muslim majority for their unwavering support, Harbaksh said that his success in the elections is a tribute to the brotherhood and communal harmony existing between different communities in Kashmir. He said despite ten Muslim candidates in poll fray, the people chose him for the seat.
“It’s a slap on the communal forces who have been defaming Kashmiri Muslims for being communal and driving Hindus out of the Valley,” he said.
Besides Harbaksh, another Sikh candidate, Avtar Singh secured victory in the DDC polls from 5-Dadsara constituency. He defeated his closest rival Ali Mohammad Bhat of the National Conference by a narrow margin of 3 votes.
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