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| Talib returns to NC fold, Govind makes full circle | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 2: In what can be described as poll time bonanza for the National Conference, its two senior and estranged leaders –Choudhary Talib Hussain and Govind Ram Sharma –today returned to the party fold.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s announcement of the decision at a hastily convened a crowded press conference here this afternoon reflected that fact as how deeply party valued their return to the organization. He said that the differences and misunderstandings have been done away with and two important leaders of the party are back home.
While for Govind Ram Sharma it was like political career making a full circle, the veteran leader and parliamentarian Talib Hussain had actually never deserted the National Conference as he was in a state of estrangement in the party. Talib said that he has always valued democratic expressions both at personal and party level and therefore his decision to contest assembly elections independently and then return to the party was a reflection of similar expressions.
A veteran Gujjar leader and ace parliamentarian Talib has remained a legislator and Minister several times. In 2001 he created a history of sorts by winning the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha elections first time ever since 1967 when direct LS polls were introduced in Jammu and Kashmir. Talib took this seat away from BJP in the by-election when the seat fell vacant following death of incumbent MP Vaid Vishnu Dutt.
He did not contest 2004 Lok Sabha elections and was denied the National Conference ticket in 2008 forcing him to contest elections independently. However, even after revolting against National Conference in assembly elections he did not join any party despite hot persuasions.
Govind Ram was state minister in Dr Abdullah’s cabinet during the NC regime. Both Govind Ram and Ch Talib Hussian contested unsuccessfully the recent assembly elections from their respective areas.
Govind Joined BJP after deserting NC in 2002 and later joined congress for some time, while Choudhary Talib Hussian remained in the party till 2008 elections were announced and contest elections against his party collogue Muhammad Aslam. Talib Hussian and Govind Ram got a good number of votes during the recently held assembly elections as both contested as independent and as BJP candidates respectively.
Talib got 8763 votes in Rajouri constituency where NC’s official nominee and former MLA Muhammad Aslam Khan got only 7706 votes. Similarly Govind Ram polled over 17,000 votes.
While welcoming the duo into the party fold Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that NC has always been proud of the senior stalwarts as these leaders have worked with Sheir-e-Kashmir Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and Dr Farooq Abdullah very closely. “I always welcome the old Party collogues into the party fold” Omar said.
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