news details |
|
|
| PDP poised to win one RS seat | | | NIRBHAY JAMMUAL
Jammu, Jan 14: It is simple mathematical and not political permutation and combination as far as filling four seats in the Rajya Sabha from Jammu and Kashmir is concerned. If the notification is issued for filling all the four seats the BJP, which has 11 members in the Assembly, is likely to see its candidate making it to the Rajya Sabha if it has the support from the three Panthers Party MLAs. In case the notification is issued for filling two seats at a time the BJP-Panthers combine may not be able to see its candidate elected to the Rajya Sabha. The reason being that the ruling NC-Congress alliance can secure the support of more than 48 MLAs. The alliance has 44 members in the Assembly and with the support of Ghulam Hassan Mir, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin and M.Y.Tarigami besides a couple of independent MLAs out of the total of four its strength could go upto 50. Again in case the notification is issued for filling all the four seats the ruling alliance could win three seats.
As far as the PDP is concerned it is likely to win one seat whether election has to be held for all the four seats or for three seats. Indications are that two former Chief Ministers and one union Minister may seek election to the Rajya Sabha. Sources said that former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig may be PDP choice for Rajya Sabha ticket.
From the coalition camp, the probable one's are Ghulam Nabi Azad, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz. Reports say that Azad wants to get rehabilitated in the centre after he has realized that for him there were no chances to become the Chief Minister for six years. Had there been the repetition of the agreement which the Congress and the PDP had hammered out in 2002 Azad would have waited as he did till 2005.Under that agreement it was to be a rotational Chief Minister. After Mufti Mohammad Sayeed completed three years he had to step down to make space for Ghulam Nabi Azad. But there is no such agreement between the Congress and the National Conference which means that Omar Abdullah will have to occupy the Chief Minister's seat for six years if no political eventuality warranted a reversal of the arrangement.
The Congress requires the presence of a Muslim in the central Government or the AICC. Hitherto Prof.Soz has filled the gap. Once Azad gets elected to the Rajya Sabha he could pose a problem for Soz. Well so far Prof. Soz's track record as Union Minister for Water Resources has been good. His performance has brought him closer to Ms Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Reports say that the only problem Soz faced was from Azad. The two were seen together addressing pre-election rallies but there has been no union of heart between the two. The two were seen differing on the selection of party candidates and later on the choice of candidates for induction in the council of ministers. But invariably Azad has scored over Soz. It has not been decided whether both Azad and Soz will be fielded by the Congress or not.
Reports say that Dr Farooq Abdullah too is keen to seek reelection to the Rajya Sabha. He is still in two minds because he would prefer contesting the Lok Sabha as he finds the ground for the National Conference safe in Srinagar constituency. The case is similar to Mufti Mohd.Sayeed as he too would jump to the national political scene by either entering the Rajya Sabha or contest for the Lok Sabha seat from Anantnag. Majoirt of PDP leaders favour the Mufti to retain the Assembly seat so that he could strengthen the base of the party in the state. With 21 members in the Assembly the PDP besides the BJP could make the Rajya Sabha election a keenly contested affair. No side can expect a cake-walk win in case the PDP or the BJP muster the support of some independent MLAs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
