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| JK trade union leaders, bureaucrats nurture political ambitions' | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Feb 26: The trade union leaders and bureaucrats of Jammu and Kashmir have a weakness for politics. Many of them opted for voluntary retirement to pursue a career in politics.
On Monday, former bureaucrat Farooq Ahmad Shah joined National Conference in presence of party president Dr Farooq Abdullah and vice president Omar Abdullah.
Welcoming Shah into the party fold, Dr Farooq said, "The party will definitely benefit from the experience of Farooq Shah in public life. His acumen for administration will benefit the party," adding, "I am hopeful that Farooq Shah will make the party strong at grass roots."
The Abdullahs announced that Farooq Shah will contest assembly elections from Gulmarg constituency. They further said that Farooq Shah will be a cabinet minister if NC forms the government.
A delighted Farooq Shah vowed to carry Sheikh Muhamamd Abdullah's mission forward. "I will work alongside the party's rank and file in ensuring that the party's flag flies high," he said.
On February 2, noted trade union leader Abdul Qayoom Wani joining the Peoples Democratic Party. He has been the president of Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC).
EJAC is an umbrella body of various employees unions. There are accusations that leaders are using trade unions as their launching pad to pursue a political career.
Former prominent trade union leader Mohammad Khurshid Alam joined the PDP in 2013. He unsuccessfully contested 2014 assembly polls from Khanyar. He was later elected Member of Legislative Council. Another employees leader Muntazir Mohiuddin too contested the assembly polls unsuccessfully from Budgam constituency on PDP's ticket.
One of employees leader, who wished not to be quoted, said, "Joining politics by trade union leaders has raised questions upon our credibility. Even if an employee leader is sincere still his intentions are being doubted. Many believe that employee leaders are using trade unions as launching pads for their political interests," he said.
Similarly, there are new faces in politics from bureaucracy, social and RTI activists.
Like 2010 IAS topper, Shah Faesal resigned from services. "I am not trained to do politics. I will like to work within the system and use my skills to do better governance. Hurriyat does not give me that opportunity because they don't believe in electoral politics. So I won't join the Hurriyat at the movement," Faesal has said.
Faesal, an IAS officer who topped the UPSC exam in 2010 and the first to do so from Jammu and Kashmir, has decided to float his own party and to contest from north Kashmir's Parliamentary constituency.
After his resignation, there were a lot of speculations that he may join the National Conference and could be its probable candidate from north Kashmir for Parliamentary polls. The speculations gained momentum after National Conference senior leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah in a tweet said, "welcome to the fold".
Hailing from Lolab - a picturesque valley in the frontier district of Kupwara - the 35-year-old was a doctor before qualifying for civil services exams. After topping the IAS, he was seen a role model for the youth. He has a good following on the social media. Faesal is set to float own party for which he has started fund raising. |
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