The General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI (M), MY Tarigami has said that many candidates contesting the upcoming District development council polls are being kept away from their constituencies and they have been bundled in ‘cluster accommodations’.
Tarigami in a letter addressed to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu Kashmir administration wrote, The first ever District Development Council (DDC) elections are commencing in next few days and to make the process credible, the participation of voters is imperative.
“However, a good number of candidates, who are contesting these polls, have been kept away from their constituencies and they have been bundled in ‘cluster accommodations.” Tarigami said.
Accusing the administration of disallowing movement of several candidiates, Tarigami said that after filing their nomination papers, many candidates are not being allowed to hold campaigning in their respective segments due to a perceived threat to their lives.
“Confining candidates against their wishes has severely restricted their movement and ability to campaign,” Tarigami wrote in the letter.
Several candidates from far off places were sent to hotels in Srinagar soon after they filled the nomination forms last week.
Not just the voters, but the families of the candidates are also concerned.
“Who wins and who loses, the decision must lie on the electorate. Democracy must finally win. For that, the process must be made secure and credible. It is advisable not to put avoidable restrictions -on the contesting candidates and instead their legitimate movement for the campaigning in their respective areas must be effectively facilitated, Tarigami said.
Pertinently various videos surfaced on digital media and social media platforms in which candidates from People’s alliance for Gupkar Declaration alleged that they were disallowed to campaign.
Former Chief Minister of the erstwhile Jammu Kashmir, Omar Abdullah also alleged that the PAGD candidates were being stopped from campaigning.