PDP youth leader Parra wins party's bastion Pulwama

Pulwama, Oct 8: Naira village, a quaint hamlet located just a short drive from Pulwama town, erupted in joy on Tuesday as People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra secured a victory in the Pulwama Assembly constituency.

35-year- old Parra defeated former MLA and National Conference leader Mohamamd Khali Bandh by a margin of 8148 votes. The victory came to Parra after he recently faced defeat in Lok Sabha elections, where he lost to National Conference candidate Aga Ruhullah.

As the news about the Paraa’s victory spread, hundreds of his supporters thronged to streets to celebrate the young leader’s feat. “We feel on top of the world. Our joy knows no bounds,” said an enthusiastic supporter of Parra. Another supporter while showering candies over the people said that they were waiting for this moment for a long time. “Parra is the only leader who could bring development to the area”, said Javed Ahmad, another supporter of the youth leader.

Talking to reporters, Parra said that the PDP did not only contest the elections but it also fought the government’s onslaught over the last five years. He said that wherever he got an opportunity he would talk about the decisions taken on August 5, 2019. “Be it in the House or on the streets, we would continue to raise the voice of people,” PDP said.

The Pulwama constituency seat has been a traditional bastion of PDP since 2002 and was represented three times by Bandh. In neighbouring Rajpora distcrit, National Conference leader Ghulam Mohidin Mir registered victory by defeating his nearest victory and former PDP MLA Syed Bashir Ahmad by a margin of 1413 votes.

The Pampore Assembly segment was won by former Lok Sabha member Justice Husnain Masoodi by a margin of 2763 votes. Similarly, PDP leader Rafiq Ahmad Nayak registered his victory from the Tral Assembly segment. He defeated Congress candidate Surinder Singh by a thin margin of 460 votes.