After winning on two municipal wards of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) in the Urban Local Body (ULB) by-polls, former Srinagar Mayor and National Conference leader Salman Sagar on Tuesday said: “The win has come despite restrictions by the authorities on campaigning”.
Sagar won the ULB by-polls from Solina and Soura constituencies of summer capital Srinagar.
Sagar said: “We were not allowed to campaign, not given proper security and not allowed to meet people. At every point of time we were stopped on the way,” Sagar told Greater Kashmir in a chat after the poll results were announced.
Sagar alleged that campaigning for the polls was a “once sided affair, but we trusted Almighty Allah and then people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“What we saw in exit polls, trends went that way and so did the results go in favour of alliance (People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration.”
At the counting centre, the National Conference was leading in three wards of the ULB by-polls— Idgah, Solina and Soura – in the initial rounds of counting. However, later gains made by Peoples Democratic Party candidate Rehana Parvez helped her win from Islam Yarbal block in Idgah.
The Rawalpora seat was bagged by the JK Apni Party candidate Muhammad Ashraf Dar.
Meanwhile, amid bone chilling cold as soon as the counting began at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Centre at 9 am, Sagar was seen exuding confidence as NC looked emerging as a clear winner in at least two wards.
“We were satisfied as far as arrangements for the counting are concerned. From the first round we were hopeful of a victory,” Sagar said.
Sagar said he was “thankful to his party and people of Srinagar” for giving him mandate and “showing faith” in him.
“I am thankful to my party workers and people of Solina and Soura who helped me get elected to the Srinagar Municipal Corporation. I see this as a vote for alliance which conveys a message that people in J&K are with the PAGD. People want DrFarooq Abdullah to lead the alliance in days to come,” Sagar said.
Sagar said winning from two seats was a clear enough indication about NC’s “strong presence in Srinagar”.
“Winning from two wards is indicative of our strength. I have always fought elections from Khanyar and so has my father (Ali Muhammad Sagar). This time I have won from two different wards. So it is not something I have inherited from a ward. This is a win for the people of Srinagar as they have given mandate to the NC,” Sagar said.
Sagar said although both the ULB and the DDC polls were a difficult election “people reposed faith in National Conference and the PAGD.”
Commenting on much-needed development in Srinagar, Sagar said: “We will take up matters related to development in right forums such as the SMC, etc. We will ensure that good development takes place and a stable corporation (SMC) is in place,” Sagar said.