Former MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat to fight elections as independent candidate

Bandipora, Sept 04: Former MLA and senior leader Nizamuddin Bhat admitted on Wednesday that he is contesting the assembly elections from the Bandipora constituency as an independent candidate.

Bhat made the admission while releasing a personal statement and outlined his development agenda for Bandipora.

When asked if this will be his first election as an independent candidate or whether he has contested as one before, Bhat replied, "No, I haven't fought elections as an independent candidate before. This is the first instance I call myself an independent candidate."

Bhat parted ways with the PDP, where he was a senior leader, in 2021 to join the PC and resigned from the party in June following the parliamentary elections.

He took aim at the PAGD, saying, "It did not remain united," suggesting its agenda was the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, "implying thereby the restoration of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and internal autonomy."

He said the PAGD's split brought "disunity," and personal party interests "brought disappointment and confusion."

Bhat noted that, ten years after Jammu and Kashmir is going to the polls, the situation is "no different," in terms of "unity and identity."

He said resent parliamentary elections were also fought on individual interests.

He stated that political parties are wedded to "individual agendas," with "some of us desiring to crave for much-needed unity on larger issues."

He pledged to remain committed to these issues, which he said can "alone guarantee our dignity" and ensure collective security.

"I am not associated with any political party at present," Bhat said, adding, "I have a personal commitment to the resolution of issues and problems faced by J&K people and Bandipora in particular."

Bhat said unity at the party level has been "made impossible" and appealed for unity at the "people's level" in Bandipora.