Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 20: Congress party today declared that it would not have pre-poll alliance with any one and the Party would contest on all the 87 seats at its own in the coming Assembly elections in the State.
While announcing the decision of All India Congress Committee at a crowded press conference in presence of former Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz here today, AICC general secretary and in-charge Party affairs in J&K, Ambika Soni said that after extensive talks with all the stake holders including party leaders and workers at all levels, the party has come to the conclusion to contest on all the 87 seats in J&K in the coming Assembly elections.
“There was massive pressure on the Congress leadership to take early decision with regard to contesting Assembly elections at its own. Even during party convention at Srinagar two weeks back and now in Jammu also, over 95 per cent party leaders and workers pleaded that Congress must contest at its own and party can perform well if it goes alone for polls. So, conceding to the demand of party cadre in the State, the decision in this regard has been taken after consultation with the party high command,” Ms Soni maintained.
Referring to the party mandate, Ms Soni said the party high command has asked to hold meetings in all the 22 districts of the State and take feed back from the grass-root level workers regarding the prospects, background, acceptability and credibility of the potential candidates. Keeping all the factors in mind, the party would give mandate to the honest, clean image and potential candidates. She said the process of holding such meetings has already begun and next two meetings would be held in Kargil and then in Udhampur, she added.
When asked whether party would consider the candidates involved in anti-party activities or against whom corruption charges were pending, the AICC leader said, “The party high command has already taken a decision to pick up honest and clean image persons and I also personally feel that the candidates who are not acceptable to the people should not be imposed or given mandate. A committee headed by PCC president Prof Soz has already been framed for the purpose and it would shortly recommend the names of the potential candidates. It would be our utmost effort to select candidates with good reputation and public image, Ms Soni added.
In response to a question regarding demand of the party workers to project Mr Azad as Chief Ministerial candidate before elections, Ambika Soni said though there is tremendous pressure from party workers for this but there is tradition in Congress party not to announce Chief Ministerial candidate before polls. She said similar pressure was from Himachal and also in Assam on the party but it did not succumb to any pressure. Let the party candidates come winning and their consent would be sought for the projection of Chief Ministerial candidate,” AICC general secretary maintained.
Replying to a question whether Congress sacrificed its agenda at the cost of its coalition partners (NC) as described by Congress workers in Jammu convention on Sunday, Mr Azad said, Party has not deviated from its agenda. It would continue to pursue its agenda of secularism and development. But at the same time he maintained that coalition is compulsion in democracy. “Being in coalition, we could not deliver what we wanted to achieve. The issue of PoK and West Pakistan refugees, strengthening of Panchayat elections, holding of Block Development Committee elections could not be resolved. Several development projects which were started during my regime could not be accomplished. The party would focus on its left out agenda, if it comes to power after winning 44 plus seats in coming Assembly elections, Mr Azad maintained.
While justifying decision of the party to go alone for polls, Mr Azad said it was keenly observed that during recently concluded Lok Sabha elections NC could not transfer votes for alliance Congress candidates as expected. It was the same case for the NC as well. Both the parties could not transfer the party vote to the coalition candidates. It was realized now had both the parties contested at their own, the results would have been different.
Mr Azad further said since 2002, no single party Government was formed in the State. “We will try to revive the lost ground and will successfully achieve 44 plus to form the Government.”
However, on a query regarding the functioning of State Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mr Azad said, “we as a coalition tried our best to do good to the people but if there is any resentment among the masses, it will be taken care of if we will be voted to power.”
He further said in 2002 and 2008 also, Congress alone contested on all 87 seats but formed the Government in coalition with PDP and National Conference later. “We will try to find out our shortcomings on the ground and will take measures accordingly,” Mr Azad added.
PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz said there are many issues in the State, which are yet to be settled. “We prepared roadmap for KPs and submitted a detailed report to the Centre and finally they announced the package but refugees’ issue has not yet been settled. We are fighting for them and would continue out struggle. He admitted that being in collation Congress could not achieve what it had decided. The issue of strengthening of Panchayats, holding BDC and Local Bodies elections remained unsolved. For this reason the State also failed to get Central assistance worth over Rs 600 crores. But Congress would continue to struggle for the pending issues of PoK/ West Pakistan refugees and strengthening of Panchayats and enhance remuneration of Sarpanchs and Panchs.
AICC secretary and 2nd in-charge J&K affairs of the party, Mian-ul-Haque was also present at the conference.
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