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| Failing to pay huge amount former NC legislator denied mandate from Tral | | Set to join BJP, fight elections as well | | Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: National Conference is all set to receive a shock in the coming days as one of its senior leaders and a former legislator in South Kashmir is calling it a day and joining Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).
Sources told Early Times that senior National Conference leader Dr. Ghulam Nabi Bhat is all set to try his luck in the upcoming Assembly elections as a candidate of BJP. Dr. Bhat is going to join the BJP very soon and this would be done in presence of some senior BJP leaders who would arrive here for the occasion.
Dr. Bhat emerged victorious from the Tral constituency in South Kashmir's Pulwama district in 2002 assembly elections from the ticket of National Conference. However, he could not win the favour of his party higher ups in the assembly elections held in 2008. His brother Mohammad Ashraf was picked up by National Conference as its candidate from Tral in 2008. His brother lost the election to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Mushtaq Ahmad Shah.
"A medico by profession Dr. Bhat was asked by the party leadership to quit his professional service and take up politics seriously. He did so and emerged victorious in 2002 assembly elections. However, in 2008 he was not picked up since he could not offer the huge donation to the party higher ups," said sources.
Sources said that this time too, the NC leadership demanded a huge sum from Dr. Bhat in lieu of getting mandate from the Tral constituency. Since Dr. Bhat expressed his inability to pay the sum he was not given the mandate and once again his brother managed to get the mandate of National Conference.
"Dr. Bhat was asked to pay Rs. 25 lakhs so that he is given the ticket from Tral constituency. He said that he is not in a position to pay the sum since he is no more in the government service. The NC leadership said that since Dr. Bhat's brother is in a position to pay the amount he would get the nod and fight the elections from Tral on NC ticket," said sources.
Sources said that after Dr. Bhat was denied the mandate he was approached by various political parties for being given the mandate from Tral constituency. BJP turned out to be the best choice for the former legislator from Tral constituency and the party immediately began the process for forward movement.
"As soon as the National Conference leaders got to know that Dr. Bhat has made up his mind to join BJP and fight the elections they started wooing him. Some senior leaders visited his residence in this regard, but failed to convince Dr. Bhat to rejoin National Conference. Dr. Bhat's brother who has been given the mandate had also offered to forego mandate in his favour but of no avail," said sources.
Dr. Bhat's decision to fight the elections on the ticket of BJP is all set to add colour to the elections for the Tral constituency. He is pitted against his brother Mohammad Ashraf and the sitting legislator Mushtaq Ahmad Shah of Peoples Democratic Party. |
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