Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 14: BJP suffered a major setback after independent corporator Parvez Ahmad Qadri defeated its candidate by nine votes to become the deputy mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
Four candidates were in a fray for the deputy mayor’s post including Parvez Ahmad Qadri, Nakul Matto, Arif Raja and Syed Mohammad Hussain.
Qadri got 33 out of 65 votes polled in the elections that were held on Monday. Arif Raja of BJP got 24 votes while congress Candidate Nakul Matto got seven votes. Another independent candidate Syed Mohammad Hussain could manage only one vote.
The elections had been necessitated after 47 corporators passed no-confidence motion against the former Mayor Sheikh Imran.
“I won the election for Deputy Mayor by nine votes. I took over the charge on the same day. My sole aim is to serve the people of Srinagar. If people are facing any difficulty, they can reach me anytime. I will always be available for them,” Qadri told The Kashmir Monitor.
On December 24, former deputy mayor of SMC Sheikh Imran resigned day after more than 47 corporators moved no-confidence motion against him.
Imran was under detention along with several other political leaders since August 5 when Centre scrapped Article 370 and downgraded the state into two union territories. However, he was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau, soon after he was removed as deputy mayor.
Imran had become deputy mayor with the support of Congress in 2018. Later, Imran joined Sajad Lone led People’s Conference. SMC Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu is also a member of People’s Conference.
