Azad to contest from Udhampur-Doda seat Lok Sabha Polls-2014 MOHD ILYAS BUTT BHADERWAH, MARCH 13. In a significant development, Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has decided to contest upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Udhampur-Doda seat. He would be also the chief campaigner of Congress for Parliamentary polls in J&K. Reliable sources told late on Wednesday evening that Azad conceded to party’s desire after he reportedly met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. “In a recent meeting with Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, majority of the party leaders had expressed serious reservations over repeating MP Chaudhary Lal Singh from Udhampur constituency. They had cited many reasons which included charges of land-grab against Singh and his anti-Muslim approach,” sources said. “Majority of leaders insisted in the meeting that Azad should contest himself from Udhampur seat as he would not only win the seat but also help the party to tide over the Narendra Modi wave in the region,” Congress sources said. However, till late evening there was no official confirmation about Azad’s candidature. All India Congress Committee and party in-charge Jammu and Kashmir, Abmika Soni had yesterday confirmed that there was a strong wave “among the party workers” in favour of Azad. “Azad Sahab is among the top contenders for the Doda-Udhampur seat and many Congress workers as well as locals want him to contest from his home constituency”, she said. “On the request of locals and party leaders, his (Azad’s) name is under active consideration of party for the seat”, she maintained. As a part of seat-sharing arrangement with its ally National Conference, Congress will be contesting on two LS seats in Jammu region and one in Ladakh while NC will contest on three LS seats in Kashmir. Sources said Azad would be arriving on a three-day visit to Jammu on March 14 to kick-start the election campaign. A senior Congress leader, wishing not to be named, said Azad is the best bet for Udhampur- Doda seat as the sitting MP Lal Singh had already left the Muslim vote bank of the party annoyed. “Plus, BJP’s candidate Dr Jitender Singh and PDP candidate Arshad Malik were seen as a potential threat for Singh,” he said. “There is no doubt that after Modi addressed Lalkaar rally in Jammu, there has been an effect a mood-swing among the people. To counter that, Azad, who enjoys mass support, is an ideal choice.” Senior Congress leader and PCC vice president Abdul Gani Vakil said Azad is arriving in Jammu on March 14 to address massive rallies and road shows. Pertinently, State Congress chief Prof Saifuddin Soz has reached Jammu to accompany Azad in the political rallies and road shows. “I am in Jammu as we have a lot of rallies to address in the coming days,” Soz said. Sources said it is believed that Azad and Soz would make the formal announcement of fielding MP Madan Lal Sharma for Jammu-Poonch seat in the inaugural rally on March 14. “As far as Ladakh Lok Sabha seat is concerned, chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Leh, Rigzin Spalbar continues to be at the top of the list. A delegation from Leh has conveyed to the Congress president that Buddhists deserve representation in the Parliament,” sources said. The Congress high command has reserved its decision over announcing Spalbar’s name formally following the fact that leaders from Kargil district of the party too have demanded mandate citing reasons that they had put in their best to keep the party flag high. “There are two contenders from Kargil which include chairman LAHDC-Kargil, Asgar Karbalai and Ghulam Raza,” sources said. Principal opposition, Peoples Democratic Party has fielded Arshid Malik, while BJP announced candidature of Dr Jatinder Singh from Udhampur-Doda seat. Both Malik and Singh were new comers in politics and will be contesting elections for the first time. National Panthers Party, said to have strong vote bank in Udhampur district, has fielded its chief Bhim Singh from the constituency.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 03:56:49 +0000
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