Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 19: Suspense prevailed over nomination of Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad as party candidate from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat as no official announcement was made by the party high command on his candidature till late tonight despite an announcement made by PCC (I) president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz this morning that Mr Azad would most probably be the Congress candidate for Doda seat.
Prof Soz told reporters this morning at Jammu Airport on his arrival from New Delhi: “as far as my understanding is concerned, Azad is contesting from Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary constituency. The formal list in this regard may be released any time today’’.
However, no official announcement was made by the Congress high command about the candidature of Mr Azad till late tonight.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, in his tweet, said: “on a separate note I am keenly waiting for the Congress to announce its candidates from Jammu and Kashmir so that we can begin the campaign in right earnest’’.
Congress was yet to name its candidates for all three seats in the State including Jammu-Poonch, Udhampur-Doda and Ladakh, which the party has been allotted under seat sharing agreement with National Conference. Ruling NC is contesting rest of the three Lok Sabha seats from the Valley.
Earlier in the day, Pradesh Congress Committee president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz said that Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is sure to contest from Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat.
“As far as my understanding is concerned, Azad is contesting from Kathua-Udhampur-Doda Parliamentary seat. The formal list in this regard may be released at any time today”, Soz told media-persons here.
Replying to a question about delay in announcement of candidates in J&K by Congress Party and keeping people in illusion over Azad’s candidature, Prof Soz said, “There was delay for all the seats- Jammu, Udhampur and Ladakh. We have not announced any candidate in J&K so far. It may be announced any time today. I feel sure as PCC president that Azad will contest from Udhampur and Madan Lal Sharma from Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat.
While responding to a question on Azad being reluctant to contest election from his native Lok Sabha constituency of Udhampur-Doda, PCC chief said “this is neither a situation of pressurising Azad, nor a situation that he is asking for it”.
“It was for the first time in Surankote in Poonch recently where Azad said that he was responding to the request to contest elections from Udhampur seat from his workers. It was enough for me to take a decision as PCC president and we have moved in this direction”, Soz said.
“Azad is a senior leader and in his own right, he will fight from his own constituency. We feel comfortable with him. One way or other, he is a best bet for the party. He is a winning proposition. He must be our candidate”, Soz added.
Replying to yet another question about any impact of Modi wave in State, the PCC chief said “Jammu and Kashmir is different situation and there is no Modi factor. We have respected the aspirations of all the regions, particularly Jammu, in the best way as we could. BJP can not pin-point any area which has remain unattended or neglected from our side. I feel comfortable from our side that we shall win comfortably both the seats”, Soz maintained.
BJP has nothing to show to the people of Jammu province. “There is no question of Modi factor in Jammu and I will prove this point,” Prof Soz added.
“Modi is not properly educated about India and its history. To run India is not a joke. India is a big country. The people will not choose extremism and make India a Hindu state. India’s people will defeat people like Modi and BJP who will be moving country towards fascism, India is too big for BJP and enormously big for Modi”, he said.
When asked leaving all the three seats of Kashmir valley for its alliance partner, National Conference despite the fact that Congress had good hold in several pockets, the PCC chief said, “I was not comfortable with the idea that Congress should not contest from Kashmir. But in coalition you may have some compulsions as well. It will take some time to the cadre to understand this.”
Replying to the question about sharing of dais by him and Azad during a public meeting with tainted former minister, Shabir Khan, Soz said it was his rally and he was the chief organiser for it. “Shabir Khan may be accused but he is not convicted so far. He has been granted bail by High Court. Shabir should be given enough chance to prove his innocence. Law will take its own course,” Prof Soz added.
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