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| Congress puts entire weight | | BATTLE OF POONCH | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
Jammu | Dec 4: As the battle of Poonch becomes quite symbolic for future electoral wave of two major political parties, the ruling Congress sensing insecurity has pressed all its men of consequence to make sure that the assembly constituency is wrested in the upcoming by-polls of December 12.
The chambers of most of the ministers in the civil secretariat here today wore a deserted look as most of the top Congress men were either already camping in Poonch or were on the way. "Poonch has become royal battle field as a major part of the government is camping here", said a political activist while speaking to EARLY TIMES over phone from Poonch.
There is no room available in the government Dak Bungalow, Guest Houses or any of the hotels in Poonch, said the reports reaching here. With VVIPs adding glamour to the poll festivity, the Ministers have hardly managed a room each for them while the staff and other officers accompanying them have been made to put up at the residences of local party activists.
Rural Development Minister Jugal Kishore reached Poonch this evening. Minister of State for Forests and Higher Education, Ajaz Ahmed Khan is already camping there. With them the strength of Ministers in Poonch reaches to five. Health Minister Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma is scheduled to leave for Poonch tomorrow morning.
Around eight legislators, including the president of the youth wing of Congress are already in Poonch. While Member of Parliament Madan Lal is just back from Poonch, another MP Choudhary Mohammad Aslam has been made to permanently camp there. It is learnt that the Ministers and legislators have been asked to stay put in Poonch till December 12 when the constituency goes to polls.
The Poonch by-election is witnessing a triangular contest between Jahangir Mir of the Congress, Ajaz Jaan of National Conference and Yash Pal Sharma, a Congress rebel. Till now the contest was truly a triangular, however, with the Congress putting up its entire strength in the border town the swing may be in the favour of Jahangir Mir.
In this battle, the Gujjars have emerged as a decisive vote bank. The population of Gujjars and Paharis is locked with each other on an ethnic front. While the Pahari votes is seeing a division between the three prominent contestants, the Gujjar bulk may decide winning prospects of the candidate. Sensing this trend, the Congress has put its entire Gujjar stuff in Poonch to lobby with the community members. |
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