By IANS,
Jammu : Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and MP Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday said her party would decentralise power at the grass roots level in Jammu and Kashmir if voted to power.
During her campaigning in the Jammu region, Mufti addressed public meetings in the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
The PDP has fielded Tassaduq Hussain and Choudhary Zulfikar from two constituencies of Rajouri.
“I assure you that if you vote the PDP to power with an absolute majority, we will get you the maximum powers at the grass roots level. Rajouri and Poonch will have hill development councils,” Mehbooba said underlining the basics of self-rule, part of the PDP’s manifesto.
She said the development councils will be on the pattern of Leh and Kargil, where devlopmental affairs are undertaken by hill councils having special powers with access to funds and power to utilize them.
“Keeping in view the backwardness and underdevelopment of these areas, we have a comprehensive and exclusive programme for the socio-economic development and political empowerment of the people of Poonch and Rajouri,” she said.
“For the implementation of these programmes, PDP requires absolute majority in the coming assembly elections,” she added.
The PDP had won 16 seats in the 2002 polls and later formed a coalition government with the Congress which had 20 seats in the 87-member assembly.
Mufti is the first leader of a major political party to campaign in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
The seven phased voting in Jammu and Kashmir begins Nov 17 and ends Dec 24. Counting of votes will take place Dec 28.