LC elections show cracks in coalition, BJP denies vote concession to PDP

Jammu/ April, 17: With BJP virtually denying conceding one seat to its ally PDP
in Jammu the cracks in ruling PDP-BJP coalition have come out open in
the council elections for two seats held on Monday in Jammu
legislature complex. As the PDP had conceded one council seat to BJP’s
G.L.Raina from valley, the BJP on its part was bound to concede one
seat to PDP from Jammu province which it virtually did not.
Reports said the PDP candidate Abdul Quayoom Dar and BJP
candidate Vikram Randawa secured 29 votes each, the BJP in breach of
the seat sharing agreement refused to offer PDP candidate two extra
votes which would help him to qualify for election to the legislative
council.As PDP and BJP candidates secured 29 votes each, the election
authorities choose to decide the fate of candidate through draw of
lots as mandated by the relevant rules of the election procedures and
interestingly BJP candidate was declared elected through of lots.
In election for yet another council seat, the Congress candidate
Balbeer Singh backed by National Conference was declared elected as he
got the support of four unattached members including Hakeem Mohammad
Yaseen Chairman Peoples’ Democratic Front, M.Y Tarigami CPI(M) State
Secretary, Er Rasheed MLA Langate and Pawan Gupta MLA Udhampur. Jolt
for the BJP was the support of Pawan Gupta to Congress candidate as
Gupta was till recently backing BJP but in today’s election he
virtually switched over to the opposition camp and backed Congress
candidate.