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| NC enacts high drama before swearing in ceremony | | |
Bashir Assad
Jammu, Jan 15: Jammu and Kashmir's political arena today witnessed high drama as two stalwarts of the ruling National Conference, who were sure to lose their seats in the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, were asked to continue as the decision to this effect was taken on the intervention of NC patron, Dr. Farooq Abdullah late last night.
Reliable sources told Early Times that Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ali Mohammad Sagar who along with other Ministers of National Conference had submitted their resignations ahead of the Cabinet expansion-cum-reshuffle were about to be dropped from the Council of Ministers and their resignation letters were sure to be forwarded to the Governor NN Vohra today morning but the last minute intervention of Dr. Abdullah turned the tables in favour of the duo.
Sources said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had virtually made his mind to show Sagar and Rather exit and their resignations were about to be dispatched as the CM Secretariat was told to do so, however, timely intervention by senior Abdullah deterred the move.
Is was also learnt from the reliable sources that the resignation of two most confidant lieutenants of Omar, Devinder Rana and Nasir Aslam Wani was interlinked with the resignation of two old guards, however, the last minute intervention took a heavy toll on Omar while Farooq confidants carried the day.
Not only this, Choudary Mohammad Ramzan and Mohammad Akbar Lone owing allegiance to senior Abdullah found their berth in the Cabinet in an attempt of patch work to avoid any revolt within the party. However, inducting Mir Saifullah, Sajad Kichloo and Feroz Khan in the Council of Ministers is seen as a balancing act.
But again by giving organizational responsibilities to ousted youngsters, National Conference is putting the cot before the horse as all these young faces baring Devinder Rana were alien to the party structures not familiar with the party gross-root workers. Though the move apparently seems a perspective plan to hand over the organization to the youngsters with Omar Abdullah in the driving seat but it is likely to bring storm in the rank and file of NC owing to the fact that some important non-legislators will be embarrassed by the move. On the other hand by not inducting any new face in the Council of Ministers from Srinagar city is also likely to take a heavy toll on National Conference in the capital city as the legislators from the city feel dejected to forgotten lot and their revolt in near future cannot be ruled out.
Banking exclusively on Ali Mohammad Sagar who is more bothered about his Khanyar constituency and has shown least interest in the rest of the city during last four years on one hand and his dictatorial and autocratic behavior and callous attitude towards his fellow party men has added to the restlessness among the Srinagar legislators. So delusion, apathy, alienation and inconvenience are what the MLAs from Srinagar are used to in Omar's Government.
Their non-representation apparently exposed the NC Government to a State of embarrassment, amid speculation in media that the Srinagar Legislators of the party were risking their political relations with the party leadership.
But there are some reports which suggest that by giving organizational responsibility to youngsters particularly Rana and Wani, Dr Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have actually tried to kill two birds with a single stone. This exercise according to reports is aimed at clipping wings of firebrand additional general secretary and younger brother of senior Abdullah, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal who has the potential to hijack the organization now the question is what would be the impact of this whole exercise which has apparently confounded the confusion within the ranks of National Conference. As for the young voters in Srinagar who are otherwise alienated lot, are particularly keen to note the sense of participation, of 'having a say'; the rest of the electorate at large is likely to cite a sense of civic duty or responsibility to vote. There is some evidence to suggest that the prevailing cynicism among Srinagar legislators is directed at party politics and Nasir Aslam Wani becoming provincial president of NC will further their cynicism for he is seen as unrepresentative of the organizational cadres.
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