 Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 21: A day after Muzaffar Hussain Baig attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at MA Stadium, there are rumours in the political circle that the former Deputy Chief Minister is going to contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from north Kashmir’s Baramulla Parliamentary constituency.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Muzaffar Hussain Baig had won this Parliamentary seat as a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.
While Baig will join the fray as an Independent candidate, the BJP will support his candidature to ensure the former Deputy Chief Minister will get the maximum votes of the Pahari-speaking people.
After granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Pahari-speaking people, the BJP is hopeful that this community will vote in support of Muzaffar Hussain Baig, who is the tallest leader among all Paharis.
Baramulla Parliamentary constituency of north Kashmir is dominated by a Pahari-speaking population so the BJP is optimistic about effectively competing with the National Conference or other regional groups.
Meanwhile, PDP faced embarrassment as former Deputy Chief Minister showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his attendance at a rally in Jammu. Baig, who rejoined the PDP with much publicity on January 7, distanced himself from the party on Tuesday, stating he would not seek membership.
In a surprising turn, Baig commended Narendra Modi for the development and progress in Jammu and Kashmir, a stark departure from the PDP's usual criticism of the Prime Minister and his government. He urged all political parties to set aside their differences and support Modi's initiatives for the region.
Despite rejoining the PDP just 40 days earlier, Baig emphasized his disassociation from the party, stating he would not seek membership even if invited. He cited the invitation from the Prime Minister’s Office as the reason for attending the rally.
Baig’s recent actions mark a rapid shift from his earlier allegiance to the PDP, which he had rejoined alongside his wife, Safina Baig, who is the chairperson of the District Development Council Baramulla. Despite being one of the founder members of the PDP, Baig had previously resigned from the party in November 2020, citing dissatisfaction with the leadership's approach towards other members of the Peoples’ Alliance of Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
After leaving the PDP, Baig joined the Peoples Conference led by Sajad Gani Lone in 2021, returning to the party where he initially began his political career under the mentorship of late Abdul Gani Lone. Baig expressed his delight in rejoining the Peoples Conference, highlighting his longstanding association with the party since his youth. |
