Srinagar : In recent developments within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), another District Development Council (DDC) member from south Kashmir’s Shopian district has resigned from the party and joined the Awami Itihad Party (AIP).
Raja Waheed, District Vice President of PDP Shopian and a DDC member from Shopian, cited a lack of respect within the party as his reason for leaving.
“I have joined AIP because my aim has always been, and will always be, to work for the welfare of the people,” Waheed said.
His resignation follows similar moves by DDC members Kakapora Qayoom Mir and Dr Harbaksh Singh from Tral, who recently left the PDP to join AIP.
Meanwhile, AIP announced a list of nine candidates for south Kashmir for the upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
AIP chief spokesperson Inam Un Nabi, addressing a press conference, said the selection of candidates was made after extensive consultations with the local community and civil society.
He said the party plans to contest the elections independently without forming alliances with other political parties in Kashmir.
The AIP’s candidate list for south Kashmir includes Ab Qayoom Mir (Pampore), Dr Harbaksh Singh (Tral), Sofi Iqbal (Pulwama), Molvi Fayaz (Zainapora), Mohd Aarif Dar (Devsar), Dr Suhail Ahmad (Devsar), Hilal Ahmad Malik (Dooru Shahabad), Aaqib Mushtaq (Anantnag West and Tawseef Nisar (Anantnag 44).
The party is also preparing to release its manifesto in the coming days, pending further internal discussions, the spokesperson said.
He said the party is hopeful about the release of its chief, Engineer Abdul Rashid, whose bail hearing is scheduled for August 28
