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| AICC convinced, Congress likely to field Azad from Doda-Udhampur | | Lok Sabha elections-2014 | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Mar 11: Despite expressing reservations over contesting parliamentary elections from Jammu and Kashmir,Congress is likely to field ex-Chief Minister and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad from Doda-Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency.
A close aide of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi said "Since credible exit polls and survey reports have shown overwhelming support on Doda-Udhampur parliamentary seat for Ghulam Nabi Azad, we have no reason to field someone else from this seat. Though he has expressed reservations owing to his over-busy schedule but we have no option but to convince him to file nomination papers from Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency."
He added "We know, he has so many responsibilities but that does not mean, he would not be able to contest from Doda-Udhampur. We have reports that even if he simply files the nomination papers, he would win hands down. BJP candidate is no match of Ghulam Nabi Azad." The close aide stressed that AICC is convinced about the strong credentials of Ghulam Nabi Azad on Doda-Udhampur seat.
Sources said that a formal announcement is likely to be made on Wednesday afternoon since a day later i.e. March 14; Azad is scheduled to reach Jammu where he would be addressing rallies in Rajouri-Poonch area alongwith Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Prof. Saifuddin Soz. They added that if Azad resists, Congress would have to find another candidate since most of the MLAs from Doda-Udhampur constituency have refused to back Choudhary Lal Singh.
Sources disclosed that AICC in-charge for Jammu and Kashmir Ambika Soni had recently told a Congress MLC about Congress seriously thinking about fielding Ghulam Nabi Azad from Doda-Udhampur constituency. They added that the said MLC passed on this information to other Congress leaders without even seeking a confirmation from Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Sources further said that the strength to Azad's candidature has come from National Conference (NC) since it is they who backed the opinion of Congress leadership of Ghulam Nabi Azad being the most favoured candidate on Doda-Udhampur parliamentary constituency. NC, according to sources has told AICC that Azad is most suitable candidate from this constituency despite intense polarisation and impact of BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narinder Modi.
They have said that it would be easy to transfer NC votes to Congress if the candidate is Ghulam Nabi Azad. "If the candidate is Choudhary Lal Singh, it would be difficult to transfer votes. But Azad Sahab would get votes of NC without much difficulty. So, Azad is the best choice. If Congress has decided to field Azad, we could be sure of sweeping Jammu region in the Lok Sabha elections," said an NC leader.
Sources further disclosed that Choudhary Lal Singh who has been claiming of being candidate from Doda-Udhampur on his own is actually not interested to contest parliament elections-2014 keeping in view his bigger plans of donning the mantle of Deputy Chief Ministership of the state after the 2014 assembly elections. They added that he has also not reconciled with the scenario wherein his juniors in the party are holding ministerial assignments with coveted portfolios. |
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