Bandipora, June 20: The Sarpanchs and Panchs in Gurez Valley of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district are demanding re-poll after withdrawing support from its woman BDC 10 days ago.
A total of eight Sarpanchs and 40 of the 60 Panchs withdrew support from the BDC who they claim used to work for “achieving personal goals rather than attending to public issues at large”.
“We have withdrawn our support for the acting BDC some 10 days ago and the duly signed copies have been forwarded to District Panchayat Election Officer, ADC, SDM and BDO,” Abdul Raheem, a Sarpanch from Dawar in Gurez told Greater Kashmir.
Fahmida Bano, the acting BDC, was elected as BDC after winning the Panchayat elections in 2019.
The BDC has ever since changed at least two party affiliations.
“We haven’t had a meeting of PRIs to discuss local issues since she became the BDC. The public as well as the association of PRIs seem defunct with a head who doesn’t know how to lead the way and help raise issues about public welfare,” Gulzar Ahmad Lone, another Sarpanch said.
In a signed letter addressed to the concerned officers, the Sarpanchs and Panchs have said, “The BDC has failed to establish a well-defined connection with the PRIs concerning her constituency for the public good.”
The BDC has rather chosen to work towards fulfilling personal goals due to which she lost the trust and support of almost all the PRIs, reads the letter.
“The BDC does not qualify to hold this position now or again,” it said.
The PRIs said that the government must take action and pass the no-confidence motion against her so that fresh elections are held as soon as possible to help elect them the new chairman.