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| Kathua: The seat of Congress has it mutineers well placed | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Kathua, Dec 11: The gateway of Jammu and Kashmir and a cultural confluence of Duggar, Pahari and Paunjabi, Kathua is only district in entire Jammu province where Congress has been better placed among all parties. Now when the campaign ends for crucial battle, it appears that not Congress but its rebels are best placed in the contest.
The number of rebels is almost matching the official nominees. Party had won three of the five constituencies in 2002. Two other winners –both independents –later joined Congress as associate members. One of the associate members –Manohar Lal –has been given ticket in Billawar provoking four rebels from party to join fray. In Kathua party has fielded sitting MP Lal Singh (his wife is contesting from Basohli) but here the associate member –Babu Singh –has rebelled to joined fray among others.
The second largest assembly segment of Kathua district, Hiranagar border constituency, is set to face a bitter battle of ballots on December 13 with a sharp resentment brewing up among voters against the local Congress MLA.
Congress MLA Girdari Lal Chalotra, who won 2002 assembly elections by a margin of 18,212 votes against BJP candidate Gopal Dass, is faced with two strong party rebels- Rattan Chand Chalotra and Tara Chand Bhagat.
Both the rebels are putting a stumbling block in the victory of Girdari as Rattan Chand, a retired SP hailing from Sanyal border hamlet, has a strong base in the border area and Tara Chand has the backing of an influential party leader of the district.
Several old guards of the party too had revolted against the Congress high command as their demand of nominating Rattan or Tara was rejected.
"We have given our life to Congress and the party high command ditched us by not giving the ticket. It was because of us that Girdari won in 2002 but this time we want him to lose," Tara said.
"Besides rebels, there are various other factors which are against Girdari, such as the state and Central governments have not paid the compensation amount for the land that came under land mines laid during 2002 and also for the one which came under border fencing," Chak Fagwari Numberdar, Soom Chand said.
"The annual amount of Rs 2-3 crore that comes under Border Area Development Programme (BADP) from the Centre has reportedly not been utilised properly," said another critic of the MLA, Sagar Mal, a school teacher.
"Farmers are unable to cultivate approximately 10,000 kanals of land ahead of barbed fencing and the remaining 10,000 kanals of land is not fully utilised either," he added.
"Lal has failed to solve our problems despite Congress government both at the Centre and state," ex-captain Pritam Singh from the border area said.
Meanwhile, Girdari said "I am hopeful to retain the seat as Congress government under chief ministership of Gulam Nabi Azad changed the face of Jammu and Kashmir by undertaking massive developmental works."
On the other hand, BJP's Durga Dass is also sailing in Lal's boat of rebellion. He is facing a party rebel Prem Lal, who had won the seat for the party in 1996 but switched over to NC in 2002 but lost.
However, he returned to BJP later but was denied the mandate.
While all prominent candidates, including Girdari, Prem lal, Tara Chand Bhagat and Ratan Lal Chalotra hailed from Hiranagar block, Durga Dass is the only formidable candidate from Ghagwal block, which accounts for 26,000 electorates.
The battle of ballots in Hiranagar would be triangular among Girdhari Lal, Durga Dass and Prem Lal as a total of 111 candidates are in fray.
Fifth phase of assembly polls will take place on December 13 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Hiranagar assembly constituency is the second biggest assembly segment of Kathua with 99,378 votes. There are 125 polling stations with 78 as sensitive and 47 normal.
The constituency was known as Jasmir Ghar till 1972 and Girdhari Lal Dogra won five successive terms from 1957 to 1977 elections. |
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