PAGD leads BJP in J&K DDC polls (2nd Ld)

Jammu, Dec 23 (IANS) The latest trends in the counting of votes for the District Development Council (DDC) elections in Jammu and Kashmir late on Tuesday night indicated that the Farooq Abdullah-led People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has taken a big lead over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) even as the counting of votes is underway to determine the fate of 2,178 candidates.According to the latest reports, PADG has won 101 seats and is leading on 8 seats, while BJP has won 71 seats and leading on 4 seats out of the 280 segments that went to the polls across J&K.The overall voting percentage in all the eight phases across the Union Territory was 51.42 per cent.The PAGD is an alliance of Kashmir's mainstream parties which is fighting the elections jointly to prevent the BJP from making inroads in J&K. The PAGD was floated on October 7 for the reversal of constitutional changes made to Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year.National Conference President Farooq Abdullah was appointed the president of the alliance, PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti its vice president and People's Conference leader Sajad Lone as the spokesperson and CPI-M leader Yousuf Taragami as its convenor. The flag of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was adopted as the symbol of the alliance.
--IANS zi/arm