Srinagar
The state Congress on Wednesday said that the party will participate in the upcoming Panchayat and Municipal elections, saying that the decision was taken to keep the communal forces away.
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir while addressing a press conference at Srinagar said that the party will not stay away from the elections to “keep the ground open for the communal forces but we will fight with the full might.”
Mir said that they will contest the polls but governor administration should provide security to contesting candidates and peaceful atmosphere should be created for the smooth conduct of polls.
He said that they have decided after deliberations with party high command in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the security agencies are chalking out a proper roadmap for security in the upcoming Municipal and Panchayat polls in Kashmir and candidates in volatile areas would be asked to hold rallies at designated places.
The two main regional political parties National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party have decided to boycott the elections as they have asked the Government of India to clear its stand on the issue of Article 35-A.
Home Minister of India Rajnath Singh on Monday appealed political parties in Jammu and Kashmir to participate in the upcoming Panchayat and local body polls.
On Monday, the Communist Party of India also decided not to participate in the polls keeping in view the prevailing situation in the valley.
State Secretary CPI(M) Ghulam Nabi Malik, in a statement, said that despite the majority of mainstream political parties in Jammu and Kashmir deciding not to participate in these polls shows the arrogance of the BJP-led Central Government.
