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| Azad favouring preponement of State Assembly elections | | | Bashir Assad
Srinagar, Sept 13: A palpable fog of uncertainty looms over the timing of next Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad favouring preponement of elections scheduled for 2014 at least by a year somewhere in 2013.
Sources privy to Ghulam Nabi Azad told Early Times that the former Chief Minister, in an attempt to consolidate his position in the State politics for a comeback, is in favour of holding elections in the State somewhere in 2013 ahead of the 2014 Parliament election.
Sources said that Azad is working overnight to garner support of the party high command for holding the State Assembly elections as early as possible to consolidate his position for a comeback in State politics.
According to the sources Azad, being aware of strong anti-incumbency haunting Congress at the Centre, has earlier offered to quit from the Union Cabinet, apparently in a bid to consolidate his position in Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad, sources said, has now second thoughts and is instead working overnight to convince the party high command for early elections in Jammu and Kashmir where the Congress party is sharing power with National Conference since 2008.
Calculations on having Assembly elections preponed strongly hinged on the fact that Azad would like to kill two birds with a single stone while passing on the anti- incumbency to National Conference to escape the fall-out on one hand and on the other hand to ensure that elections to State Assembly are held during UPA Government at Centre.
Sources said that Azad is expecting increase in Congress tally from present 17 to 27 by at least 10 seats to put claim for Chief Minister's post with a possible ally with fringe groups in Kashmir keeping both NC and PDP away from Government formation- an idea which is unlikely to get translated into reality given the growing popularity of PDP.
Sources said that individuals like MY Tarigami, Hakim Mohammad Yasin, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Er. Rashid, Sajad Lone and many other people are in constant touch with Azad chalking out a strategy for a possible pre-poll alliance. If sources are to be believed these leaders also favour preponement of elections in the State and are supporting Azad's comeback. A close confidante of Azad told Early Times on the conditions of anonymity that Azad was vociferously pursuing the proposal of preponing elections in Jammu and Kashmir at least by one year to consolidate his position in the State politics.
However, how things will actually turn out remains to be seen. Assuming the polls are held in 2013, it would be naive to believe that the election will bring about any worthwhile fortunes for Congress.
However, a senior journalist wishing anonymity said that though Azad was favouring early elections for obvious reasons, yet he cannot wish away the growing popularity of PDP which is sure to improve its tally at least by 10 to 15 seats. "It is beyond any doubt now that PDP will gain in the next Assembly elections and it will be difficult for Congress to go alone even if it improves in Jammu region given the disintegration of and leadership crises within rightwing BJP.
Meanwhile, sources told Early Times that Er. Rashid who represents Langate constituency in North Kashmir is planning to contest next election from Sopore Constituency presently represented by National Conference. Sources further added that Minister for Agriculture and chairman Democratic Nationalist Party representing Gulmarg constituency in the State Legislature is likely to contest from two constituencies of Gulmarg and Pattan. |
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