news details |
|
|
| No pre-poll alliance in JK please, Congress leaders pleads Rahul | | Apprehend any such arrangement will shrink party's space and prove costly | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Jan 23 : Apprehending any pre polls alliance for the upcoming polls may prove fatal to Congress, the J&K unit of Congress has communicated the All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi that any pre-poll arrangement for the Parliament or Assembly elections in the State would shrink the party's space and the High Command should allow the party to "go alone for the polls."
A high-level delegation led by J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) chief Prof Saifuddin Soz met Rahul and put forth its views on any pre-poll alliance ahead of Parliamentary or Assembly polls.
The delegation comprised senior Congress leaders from Kashmir and Jammu, including district presidents.
Congress delegation met AICC Vice president Rahul Gandhi and discussed issues related to pre-poll alliance. "I didn't speak on the occasion but many party leaders spoke and put forth their views about the issue (pre-poll alliance)," Soz said.
Senior Congress leader and former minister Abdul Gani Vakil , pressed that Congress should "no more be a B-team in future." "Firstly, majority of the party-men demanded that there should be no alliance and that Congress should be strengthened in all three regions of the State.
They made it clear that the party is in dire need of having its own MPs and more legislators from Kashmir," said Vakil, further adding," it was apprised rahul that Congress should not surrender Kashmir at any cost, be it in Parliament or Assembly elections." "I personally believe that Congress means India in Kashmir. There should be no pressure to surrender seats in the name of alliance," he added.
Among others who were part of the Congress delegation includes Senior Congress Leader and MLA Inderwal G M Saroori, former minister Mula Ram, Congress MP Madan Lal Sharma, and district presidents from state Congress. Congress leaders urged the AICC vice-president that the party high command should "allow the J&K unit to go alone in both Parliament and Assembly elections."
" NC ministers always entertained their own workers, be it giving government jobs to youth, allotting tenders, or giving contracts," Congress leaders told AICC vice president. District president Congress Anantnag Gulzar Wani also mentioned that Party leaders demanded party's share in Kashmir. "Congress leaders told Rahul in clear terms that if they want to see party vibrant and strong in Kashmir, they have to keep the flock together by giving Congress men a right to contest in both Parliament and Assembly polls. He optimistically said that we should have at least one or two MPs in Lok Sabha from Kashmir region," said Wani. "That is only possible when we will contest on our own."
District president Srinagar, Abdul Gani Khan said the meeting was fruitful. "They briefed AICC vice president about how party has suffered for being in coalition for five years. Kashmir remained the prime focus of the meet, " he said. AICC vice president was appealed to ensure that Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Soz address election rallies together in Jammu and Congress leader claimed party would fetch Congress at least 35 seats in J&K this time They also stressed that there should be post-poll arrangement in both Parliament and Assembly elections slated this year.
"They told if any pre-poll arrangement would shrink party's space in Kashmir. The Congress leaders also requested Rahul to keep a close watch on elections in J&K and make sure there is no rigging," |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
