PHOTO: PTI

SUPPORTERS ALL: The turnout at a rally organised by the People's Democratic Party at Baramullah in Kashmir on Sunday. The PDP launched its campaign for the by-elections to three seats in Kashmir.

BARAMULLA: Putting an end to speculation on the byelections in Kashmir, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) founder and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday kicked off the party's election campaign at a huge rally here and introduced the coalition's three candidates for Rafiabad, Pattan and Sangrama.

Amid confusion about seat sharing between the Congress and the PDP, Mr. Sayeed said Mohammad Dillawar Mir, Moulvi Iftikhar Ansari and Javed Baig, all from the PDP, were the coalition's joint candidates for these constituencies which go to polls on April 24. There was no official word from the Congress.

"The candidates announced by me are not only from the PDP, but from the Congress as well." Spelling out his party's agenda for peace and reconciliation, Mr. Sayeed said his party had talked about treating people with dignity and honour much before the 2002 elections. Much had been achieved in that direction, he added. In his first public appearance after handing over power to the Congress in November, Mr. Sayeed asked people to judge his party by its performance. "We are seeking a mandate for the economic and political agenda put in place by the PDP in the last three years," he said. Mr. Sayeed said his government had ensured that people were not harassed during anti-militancy drives.

Referring to his meetings with the former Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, Mr. Sayeed said, "Our party has always believed that people cannot be cowed down by force and their hearts and minds could be won only through love and affection." He said even after the change of guard, the policies of the coalition government remained unchanged.

Mr. Sayeed called for rehabilitation of the families of militants who were killed. He urged the Prime Minister to consider the rehabilitation plan forwarded by the State Government last year.

Two-pronged strategy

Deputy Chief Minister Muzafffar Hussain Baig said the PDP has adopted a two-pronged strategy that includes socio-economic upliftment and friendship with Pakistan. He said lot of headway had been made during the last three years.

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