Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 7: While the NC-Congress Coalition Government announced to conduct Block Development Councils elections in 143 blocks of the State on November 7 this year, the Congress, an important constituent today discussed the strategy in a meeting of its ministers and legislators held under the leadership of PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz in Srinagar this evening.
The party sources told the Excelsior that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the strategy for the elections to the 143 Block Development Councils and take decision whether party should go alone for the polls or in alliance with the National Conference. While there were different suggestions from the party MLAs/ MLCs and the ministers but majority of them stressed for going alone for these polls.
The two and half hour meeting of the Congress legislators which commenced at around 4.15 pm in the summer capital city, also reviewed the over all situation of the party at State level. It took the review of the strength of the party according to the votes secured by the elected/ defeated members in their respective constituencies in comparison to the NC or PDP members.
It was strongly recommended in the meeting that only elected members from Panchayats should go for contest and the nominated members should not be considered.
In the first round of meeting held today on the issue, difference of opinion was witnessed among the Pradesh Congress members from Kashmir and the Jammu region. While most of the Congress members from Jammu region stressed that Party should go at its own for the forthcoming Block Development Council elections, the members from Kashmir were of the view that Congress should go to the polls in alliance with coalition partner- National Conference.
It is pertinent to mention here that there are 13 elected MLAs from Jammu region while four from Kashmir, including Ladakh. There are 16 Party MLCs in the Upper House. Some suggestions were also aired that in the constituencies where Congress has strong hold, it should fight at its own and in the areas where it is weak, both NC-Congress should go for alliance.
PCC chief Prof Soz, who chaired the meeting after seeking suggestions from all the legislators/ members said that another round of meeting would be held with the provincial body of Kashmir tomorrow. Minister for PHE, I &FC Taj Mohi-ud-Din will chair the meeting. Besides, legislators, district presidents and defeated party candidates are likely to participate in the meeting.
Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand would chair the meeting of the Provincial level members of the party from Jammu region at Jammu on October 9 at 4.30 pm. Besides ministers and legislators from the region, district chiefs of the party and defeated candidates will participate and discussed strategy. On October 11, the State level meeting on the subject will chaired by Prof Soz where a collective decision would be taken.
The Pradesh Congress will then take up the issue with the Party high command in Delhi and a final decision on the issue will be taken there. The party high command may discuss the issue with alliance partner (NC) before taking a final decision in this regard, the sources maintained.
The Congress members also discussed the issue of 73rd and 74th amendment in the Panchayati Raj Act. A committee was framed which will examine the legal implications of this amendment for which Congress was exerting pressure on the alliance partner. The members of the committee are- Minister for PHE Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of State for RDD Ajaz Khan, MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir, MLC Ravinder Sharma and MLC Naresh Gupta.
Those who attended todays meeting included DyCM Tara Chand, Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Rigzin Jora, R S Chib, Sham Lal Sharma, Raman Bhalla. Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Dr Manohar Lal-all ministers, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Abdul Majid Wani, Bashir Ahmed Magrey, Vaqar Rasool, Jehangir Hussain Mir, Ravinder Sharma, Naresh Gupta, Subash Gupta, Narboo Gialson and Ashok Kumar.
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