Kupwara, Feb 08 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples conference Monday won the district development council chairperson post in north Kashmir's Kupwara district while the vice-chairperson post was won by an independent candidate, who was also backed by PC.

Sources told news agency KNS that Irfan Panditpuri of PC was unanimously elected as chairperson of DDC Kupwara during an election meeting held here to elect chairperson and vice-person.

They said that out of the total 13 DDC members, only 9 members participated in the election meeting while the remaining 4 members belonging to PAGD remained absent from the meeting. 

"Of these 9 members PC had 5 members of their own while they also got the support of remaining 4 members and subsequently it paved the way for PC to get the key post of chairperson in Kupwara," they said.

Sources further said that Haji Mohammad Farooq, who was associated with the Congress party had contested the DDC election as an independent candidate and was declared winner. "Today with the backing of PC he was elected as vice-chairperson of DDC Kupwara," they said.

Pertinently,  one block remained in the district remained vacant as the counting of votes was halted by the election commission due to the participation of a Pakistani woman in the DDC election from this block. 

Earlier, the election meeting to elect DDC chairperson and vice-chairperson for Kupwara was scheduled to be held at 11 am but it was deferred for sometime as some members failed to attend the meeting. 

Sources said that later, 4 DDC members belonging to PAGD did not turn up for the meeting, thereby paving the way for PC to get the key post of chairperson. (KNS)