KT NEWS SERVICE SRINAGAR, Jan 4: Ending speculations, the Congress and People's Democratic Party (PDP) have decided to contest jointly the forthcoming civic polls which are being held after 22 years in Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress has formed election committees in all 14 districts in the state and one state committee which are holding talks with the PDP leadership over the seat sharing.
The district committees are headed by the district presidents and MLAs and former MLAs will be its members.
The state level committee has 22 members and comprise vice-presidents, general secretaries, MPs and other office bearers.
"We have decided to contest jointly the civic polls in the state.
The process in this regard has been set in motion and the committees at district and state level have been constituted to negotiate with the PDP about the seat sharing in the polls", Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, president J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) and state rural development minister told KTNS.
The civic polls in the state are scheduled to be held in February 2005 and notification for these has already been issued.
"We are weighing each seat in the state.
Accordingly we will decide which party will contest what seat.
Wherever we feel we are strong PDP will support us where we feel they are strong we will give them our support.
It is not a matter of number of seats but it is a matter of where the parties are strong.
This will determine our seat sharing arrangements", Peerzada said.
PCC chief said that the meetings with PDP are continuing and by the time nomination papers are filed, both the parties would complete all formalities.
"We are continuously in touch with PDP and discussing the strategy.
By the time of filing of nomination papers will reach we would have completed our formalities", he said.
Peerzada also opposed the demand by National Conference and People's Democratic Front, a coalition partner in the government for holding elections on non-party basis.
"There is no question of holding the civic polls on non-party basis.
I do not see any harm in contesting the polls on respective party basis", he said.
Earlier PDF, CPI(M) and National Conference had demanded that the polls should be held on non-party basis to ensure maximum participation of the people.
"We feel the civic elections in Jammu and Kashmir should be held on non-party basis.
This will help in maximum participation of the people, besides it will prove beneficial as far as choosing the right candidates is concerned", said Hakim Mohammed Yasin, convener of PDF and state revenue minister.
Hakim said they will lead a delegation to chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and formally urge him to hold the civic polls on non-party basis.
