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Azad to contest from Doda-Udhampur, Samphel Leh-Ladakh, Madan Jammu-Poonch
Lok Sabha elections-2014
3/21/2014 12:09:07 AM
*Sulking Lal Singh accommodated
Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 20: After much drama and prolonged delay, Congress today finally announced Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as candidate from Doda-Udhampur constituency.
Tsering Samphel would be contesting from Leh-Ladakh while Madan Lal Sharma who had filed nomination papers earlier in the day was confirmed as Congress candidate from Jammu-Poonch constituency. Confirming this to Early Times, JKPCC President Prof. Saifuddin Soz said that AICC after much deliberation took the decision of fielding Ghulam Nabi Azad from Doda-Udhampur and T-Samphel from Leh-Ladakh.
"As I had said earlier, Ghulam Nabi Azad is now official candidate of Congress from Doda-Udhampur Parliamentary constituency. The announcement is likely to give much needed boost to the Congress campaign for Lok Sabha elections in Jammu region. He has strong following in Doda-Udhampur constituency and I am sure, he would record an impressive win," said Soz while congratulating Ghulam Nabi Azad for being chosen to contest Lok Sabha election from his birthplace.
The announcement was made late in the night. Sources said that the candidature of Azad was finalized after he met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The sulking sitting Member Parliament (MP) Choudhary Lal Singh has been assured to be adequately compensated after the Lok Sabha elections. "Lal Singh would be considered as and when the situation arises for elections to the Legislative council," said an senior Congress leader from New Delhi seeking anonymity.
He added that Choudhary Lal Singh had threatened to contest as independent candidate from Doda-Udhampur constituency if not compensated adequately. "Lal Singh had even surprised his mentor Ghulam Nabi Azad by saying that he would not hesitate from contesting as independent if he is not considered for legislative council once the seat becomes vacant," added the leader.
He maintained that a top Congress leader from J&K in New Delhi had been backing Lal Singh and wanted an assurance from JKPCC Chief as well as Ghulam Nabi Azad for accommodating him. "A J&K born MP was making all the moves from behind the closed doors to ensure that Lal Singh is not only taken considered for legislative council but made a minister in the ruling coalition. He wanted the portfolio of Health be given to him," said a senior AICC member.
Sources further said that Lal Singh had created such a situation wherein Ghulam Nabi Azad had begun thinking about withdrawing from the contest and allowing Choudhary Lal Singh to file nomination papers from Doda-Udhampur again. "He had told senior leaders of AICC in New Delhi that Doda-Udhampur was a minority dominated seat and Azad was misfit. He said that if given mandate, he would win the seat without much contest," said the leader.
He added that the situation led to Azad delaying the announcement. "Despite the arrogant and abusive behaviour of Lal Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad wanted amicable settlement. He was even ready to allow Lal Singh to contest but party wanted Azad Sahab to take up this battle for Lok Sabha from Doda-Udhampur. Finally, Lal Singh has been assured that he would sent to legislative council while Azad Sahab would be contesting from his home for the first time since the last 35 years," sources said.
Ghulam Nabi Azad was born on March 7, 1949. He was the Parliamentary Affairs Minister of India in the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh until 27 October 2005, when he was appointed as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. After delivering victories in several key states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the 'crisis manager' of the Congress surprised many when he led the party successfully in the 2002 Assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad's forte is his organisational skills, having been the AICC general secretary for a record nine times and member of the powerful Congress Working Committee for 18 years, perhaps the longest period among the current leaders. As a Union minister, he steered successive Congress governments to victory in 21 no-confidence motions including the minority government of P. V. Narasimha Rao in the early 1990s.
Azad's first political assignment was the Block Congress Committee secretary in Bhalessa District Doda in Doda district, his native place. In 1980, he was appointed as the President ofAll India Youth Congress, the first from the minority community.
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