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| Mehbooba to contest LS polls from South, Baigh from North Kashmir | | Omar to try his luck from Central Kashmir | | Bashir Assad
Jammu, Nov 9: If everything goes according to plans, People’s Democratic Party President, Mehbooba Mufti will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Anantnag- Pulwama Parliamentary constituency which are due by early next year.
If the party sources are to be believed the decks have already been cleared for Mehbooba contesting from Anantnag-Pulwama Parliamentary Constituency.
Sources said that under the given scenario when there is every possibility that National Conference and Congress may fight the Parliament elections in alliance, PDP has almost decided to field its president from the South Kashmir-the stronghold of the party.
"If NC-Congress go together for elections, PDP is left with no choice other than fielding Mehbooba from South Kashmir because she is the only candidate who could win from there even if the NC-Congress go together," said a senior party leader on the condition not to be named.
They said though the party has other prospective candidates from south Kashmir, however, Mehbooba could be relied upon more than anybody else.
"Congress has two seats in South Kashmir and it gives tough fight in third Assembly segment and if Congress and NC go together as was hinted at by Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi during his just concluded visit to the state, then PDP is left with no other option but to field its firebrand president from South Kashmir to ensure victory from that important constituency," said a party insider.
Political observers also believe that Mehbooba could be the only seat wining candidate if PDP wants to open its account in 2014 Loke Sabha elections. They said that since Mufti Mohammad Sayeed would be the Chief Ministerial candidate of the party, Mehbooba should necessarily fight Lok Sabha election from Anantnag seat.
They said that Mufti himself has of late hinted at sending 'tested and credible' representatives to Parliament to take up peoples' issues with conviction and commitment.
It is also being said that from North Kashmir (Baramulla-Kupwara constituency), the opposition PDP is eyeing on senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, Muzaffer Hussain Baigh. Sources said though Baigh has expressed his unwillingness to contest either Lok Sabha or Assembly elections due in 2014, the party leadership is solely relying on his candidature from North Kashmir-the only seat in Kashmir which could witness a triangular contest because Sajad Gani Lone of People’s Conference is also going to contest from there. "Baigh is not ready to contest but the final decision has to be taken by the party leadership," said an insider.
Meanwhile, sources in the ruling National Conference said that owing to his decimal performance as Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah may also contest Parliament elections from Central Kashmir. They said that old horses in National Conference are favouring Dr. Farooq Abdullah's Chief Ministerial candidature. They believe Dr. Abdullah is the only leader who could save the sinking boat of National Conference.
"Yes we want that Dr. Saheb should make a comeback in state politics to save NC," said a senior leader of the party wishing anonymity. He said the anti-incumbency factor is such that NC workers too feel dejected. "We feel dejected and demoralized by Omar Abdullah's performance," said the leader adding Dr Farooq alone could save the sinking boat of the party. |
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