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| Samba awaits another Kundal | | Chief Secretary all set to take political plunge | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | May 29
The central assembly constituency of newly created Samba district is all set to assume a high profile with a top bureaucrat considering to contest assembly election from their.
If sources in the bureaucracy and the Congress circles are to be believed, the present Chief Secretary BR Kundal is all set to bid adieu to the top post and embark on the political battlefield. "Chief Secretary is almost ready to seek premature retirement and contest the forthcoming assembly election", a source close to Kundal told the EARLY TIMES.
A 1972 batch IAS Officer, Kundal took over as Chief Secretary in October last year succeeding Chhewang Phunsog. He is due to retire in February 2009. Sources said that Kundal is planning to seek premature retirement and join active politics.
Sources said that though joining politics was Kundal's self initiated idea but he has verwhelmingly encouraged by the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. It is learnt that the discussions on this 'innovative' idea were going on for quite some time but it gained currency during the present month when the Chief Minister took up the exercise for shortlisting candidates for various assembly segments. Earlier, discussions between the Congress leadership and Kundal were on for fielding him from RS Pura constituency. Later party inputs guided that RS Pura could be once more a safer bet for the incumbent legislator Suman Bhagat and therefore Kundal should be fielded from Samba constituency to add the number in Congress tally as his winning prospects are being seen bright.
Both RS Pura and Samba constituencies are reserved for Scheduled Castes and Kundal's SC background is being considered as a plus point.
Samba constituency is presently represented by Yash Paul Kundal of the Panthers Party. In this constituency, the Congress had its traditional candidate in Swarn Lata Bhagat. Since Swarn Lata was recently appointed as chairperson of the State Social Welfare Advisory Board.
Congress sources said that Swarn Lata's appointment as vice chairperson of the board will also boost the chances of Kundal's victory.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary who was in Jammu for two days convened a meeting of the prominent members of his community on Wednesday.
Sources said that he discussed his election plan with the community members and sought their help in the election. |
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