|
Kashmir : Cakewalk for Ghulam Nabi Azad expected |
 |
The two main coalition partners in Jammu and Kashmir-the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have decided to support each other in the coming Assembly by-polls. While the PDP would field its candidates from Sangrama, Pattan and Rafiabad constituencies in the Kashmir Valley, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad would contest on the Congress ticket from Bhaderwah segment in Jammu province.
The joint contest has drowned the chances of the Opposition National Conference, which was relying on the decision of the coalition partners to contest the elections. There was a strong lobby in the Congress, which wanted to field its candidates from the valley’s Assembly segments. The PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, however, convinced the Congress leadership to leave the three constituencies to his party on the logic that PDP was enjoying support in the Kashmir valley as the Congress had a support base in Jammu.
With the National Conference deciding not to put up a candidate against Gulam Nabi Azad, the Chief Minister is expected to have a cakewalk in the by-election to be held on April 24.
In the meantime, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed has said that with India and Pakistan initiating the process of resolving the Kashmir issue, a solution was on the cards. Addressing an election rally in Baramulla, he said only peaceful talks can resolve the issue.
The Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ensure the participation of the separatist Hurriyat Conference in the second round-table conference on Kashmir to be held in Srinagar next month. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, addressing a rally in Srinagar, on April 7, also urged the Prime Minister to take steps for facilitating the return of Kashmiris who had crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir during the past 15 years and were interested in coming back.
A two-day intra-Kashmir conference is to be held in Jammu from April 12, six weeks ahead of the second round table conference to be held in Srinagar. Representatives from all parts of the state including from across the line of control and the Northern Areas are expected to take part in the Jammu meeting. The Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation is organising the conference with the objective of promoting conciliation between various ethnic, regional and linguistic groups living on the two sides of the line of control.
|
