MP Engineer Rashid led AIP spreads wings in South Kashmir

Two PDP leaders join party, many expected to join soon

Srinagar: Days after the three-phased assembly elections were announced, the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency led Awami Ittehad Party is spreading its wings in South Kashmir as a few leaders have announced their joining in the partyfold while a few more are expected to join soon.On Tuesday, two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders and DDC members including Dr Harbaksh Singh and Abdul Qayoom Mir resigned from the party and joined AIP.Talking to reporters after joining AIP, Singh said that he hasn’t left the party for not getting the mandate but being a senior leader, he wasn’t taken into confidence before taking any decision.He said despite serving the party for 14 years, he wasn’t informed about the decision made by the party for Tral constituency. He alleged that both the PDP and NC have always neglected minority communities and he is hopeful that the AIP won’t repeat such things.Singh said that he is against the policy of the PDP where they think about their family only. “I have always worked for the welfare of the people and will continue to do so irrespective of the affiliations of the party,” he said.DDC member from Kakapora Abdul Qayoom Mir will contest the assembly elections from Pampore against Zahoor Mir.PDP workers from the area said Zahoor Mir was inactive for the last six years and a mandate should have been given to the active leader only.Meanwhile, sources said that many other PDP leaders, who have been denied mandate, are in touch with AIP and they are expected to join the party soon.The leaders include former MLA Watchi Aijaz Ahmad Mir, DDC Member from Shopian Raja Waheed, DDC Chairperson Pulwama Syed Bari Andrabi and others.Sources said that they are in touch with other parties like Congress as well but they think they won’t be able to get a mandate from Congress if there will be any pre-poll alliance.However, most of these leaders are still waiting to get any green signal from the party with which they have been associated.Sources further added that AIP team is in touch with leaders of other parties but the situation will get clear once parties like NC, Congress, Apni Party and others will announce mandates—(KNO)