By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu: Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, an ace politician and strategist in planning electoral successes is a worried lot with Jammu and Kashmir Congress facing a revolt over the nomination of Jehangir Mir as Congress candidate for Poonch bye-elections by refusing the mandate to Yashpal Sharma, who lost the last elections by a narrow margin to National Conference candidate.
The recent update from the interveners, appointed to convince the rebel candidate to withdraw his nomination, has added to the worries of Azad, who is now facing opposition from not only his anti-lobby but even from some of his strong loyalists, over the decision to ignore the contributions of Sharma towards the party.
The strategist with Azad has decided to allot ticket to Jehangir Mir, nephew of veteran politician GM Mir Poonchi, having a staunch nationalist and Congress family traditions at its backing by ignoring Yahspal Sharma, having a strong clout among the locals including Hindus and Muslims.
Sources close to Azad told News Agency of Kashmir that decision was taken after marathon deliberations and it was decided that Poonch, with a marginal Hindu population cannot return Yashpal Sharma as victorious and instead a Muslim with staunch nationalist outlook should be fielded as the candidate.
The Muslim card by the chief minister, however, has boom-ranged as most of the Congress leaders including Azad supporters have been bidding for mandate to Yashpal Sharma. The chief minister, who faced a virtual revolt by the Congressmen including 11 Corporators in Poonch – who resigned enmasse – has not been cowed down by the disapproval of his supporters.
Instead, chief minister, sources told NAK, is reported to have rebuked his supporters and deputed two of them including Madan Lal Sharma, MP and MoS Industries Dr. Romesh Sharma to win over Yashpal Sharma back and ask him to withdraw his nomination as Independent candidate from Poonch.
The duo has, however, failed to win back Sharma and another Congress stalwart Choudhary Aslam has been deputed to Poonch to prevail upon rebel candidate Yashpal Sharma. But the chances of Yahspal returning to Congress fold are diminishing as he has fought two Assembly elections in Poonch and has each time reduced the losing margin.
Sources in the party revealed that the negotiations with Sharma have virtually failed as he has refused to withdraw his nomination. “All the attempts made by Madan Lal Sharma and Dr Romesh have proved failure as Sharma is out to prove himself right”, sources said.
The rebel Congress candidate, sources added, has also strong backing of some of the top guns in the party circles. His supports, they added, not only include the leaders known to be in anti-Azad lobby but some of them are very close the chief minister.
The real worry among Congress circles is that though Sharma may not win the elections as an independent yet he has all the potential to cut through the votes of Jehangir Mir, which could tilt the balance in favour of National Conference candidate.