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| RESURRECTION: NOW OR NEVER | | NC tally in Jammu lowest ever | |
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 3: Suffering serious reverses in rural areas of Jammu region the National Conference, which bounces to back to power after six years of wilderness has, massive task ahead for resurrecting lost ground for the party.
When Jammu and Kashmir first went to elections after long spell of Governor’s rule in 1996, the National Conference had romped home as many as 15 seats –the highest obtained by any single party since 1977. Later four Janta Dal MLAs elected from various constituencies in Jammu region switched over to National Conference taking its Jammu tally to 19.
Its position drastically dropped down by as man as ten seats. National Conference could retain only nine seats in Jammu region in 2002 elections. In 2008 polls, the Jammu regional position of the National Conference has worsened plummeting its tally to down to six seats –lowest ever since 1957.
While in Kashmir the National Conference is a party of formidable urban base but in Jammu region its influence has mainly been in the rural areas. The party had been able to maintain quite significant dominance over the districts of Rajouri, Poonch, erstwhile Doda and three constituencies of erstwhile Udhampur district which now form the Reasi district.
This time NC has been able to bring home only one seat from three districts of Doda region, one seat each from Poonch, Reasi and Vijaypur districts and two seats from Rajouri district. Even though the party is running in its government formation euphoria but it will have to come up with resurrection plan to strengthen party in their areas where influence is drastically falling.
Putting the winners in proper organizational and government positions of influence may pave way for restoring sagging confidence of its cadres. Except one winner of National Conference from Poonch, Ajaz Ahmed Jan, all others have been elected to the House second or third time and they come with rich experience in politics.
Abdul Ghani Malik is the only legislator of NC from Jammu region who has been elected third time in row. The first election he had won on Janta Dal ticket from Gulabgarh in 1996 before joining the National Conference.
Rashpal Singh, another National Congress strongman from Rajouri district is coming second time to the house. Rashpal enjoys formidable influence in the region and can be an asset for the party for its revival plan in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. Rashpal is a Pahari leader but he is also one among the class who gets well with the Gujjars. The Gujjar-Pahari divide form an axis in Rajouri-Poonch politics and he is only leader from either communities to have equal acceptability among both communities.
Another representative from Rajouri district, Radhey Shyam Sharma had won 1996 elections from Nowshera constituency on Congress ticket and joined the National Conference towards fag end of that assembly.
Sajjad Kichloo is also coming to the House second time in row and he has been able to respect his father Bashir Ahmed Kichloo’s legacy. Kichloo senior was an old guard of the National Conference and worked closely with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Dr Farooq Abdullah. In the generational change, Kitchloo can play vital role with Omar Abdullah in strengthening party in Doda belt.
Surjeet Singh Slathia has of course emerged as key player of National Conference in Jammu after making win against all odds in Vijaypur constituency.
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