NC, PDP Panchayat Members To Support BJP In Local Polls

Panchayat members associated with regional political parties are considering supporting the BJP in the upcoming block development council (BDC) elections in the absence of their party leaders to re-establish their influence at the grass-roots level. Some panchayat members from the National Conference, People’s Democratic Party, and Congress have decided to join the BJP and support its candidate for chairperson of the BDC. The BJP has also approached some influential panchayat members from other political parties, supporting their candidature for BDC elections. Candidates from the NC, PDP, Congress and other political parties have not been able to meet their party leaders, most of whom are under detention since August 5, when the government withdrew the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The party leadership is supposed to issue mandates in favor of their candidates for the BDC elections. The last date for filing nominations is October 9. “What option do I have other than supporting the BJP to ensure that I remain relevant in the process of development?” said Nisar Ahmad, a sarpanch from Kulgam in southern Kashmir, who is a Congress member. He has filled his form as a BJP candidate as the party has assured him that it will not field any candidate from his block.