Rustam
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 14: Many senior Congress leaders, including former Ministers, particularly belonging to the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led group, have quitted the party and decided to contest the Assembly elections as independent candidates. All these were leaders in their own right and it is clear that their entry into the electoral arena would not only mar the poll prospects of the party's official candidates, but would also ensure the victory of non-Congress candidates.
However, it was the resignation of Congress MLC, former Chief Secretary and Cabinet Minister and virtually a right-hand man of Azad, B R Kundal, which is going to adversely impact the electoral chances of the Congress candidates in a number of constituencies. Kundal, who had been working "relentlessly" in the RS Pura Assembly constituencies for almost six years now and finally decided to contest the Assembly election from the same as an independent candidate, has influence in his community and other social segments of society. Denial of mandate to him by the Congress high command has angered and demoralized his supporters and well-wishers.
Kundal belongs to a community which has considerable presence in many constituencies in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and if reports emanating from these districts are any indication, then it can be said that the Congress, which was already not standing on a strong wicket, will surely feel the heat. Even insiders in the party say that "his decision to quit the Congress at this point in time constitutes a great setback to the party" and that "it would seal the fate of many Congress candidates". "The constituencies", according to these insiders, "where Kundal has pockets of influence include Kathua, Samba, Vijaypur, Bishnah, RS Pura, Suchetgarh, Chhamb and even Akhnoor". They also revealed that "Kundal had been assured mandate" and that "the party betrayed him by giving mandate to someone who is very controversial and has little chance in the constituency".
One may or may not endorse fully these observations of the insiders, but it cannot be denied that his exit and exit of many other senior Congress leaders from Jammu province under one pretext or the other has weakened the position of many official candidates and punctured the claim of Azad and JKPCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz that the Congress would emerge as the single largest party in the election and play the role of kingmaker as before. |
