Cong yet to finalise seat for Azad in J&K Assembly polls

Though Congress mulls to project its leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, as its chief ministerial candidate in the upcoming Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the party is yet to finalise a constituency for the veteran leader where from he will contest.

Azad, who may contest from his home turf Bhaderwah has to first deal with his cousin and sitting Congress MLA Mohammed Sharif Niaz, who is in no mood to vacate.

“I have sacrificed my constituency on several occasions before and this time, I will register a strong protest against any such move by the Congress party,” Niaz told reporters in Doda district of Jammu region.

“It’s time for others also to show loyalty towards party and they should sacrifice their Assembly constituencies to make room for Azad Sahab. Why Congress always uses me as scapegoat,” he asked.

Strong loyalist

Although, Niaz, a former state Power Minister is considered to be one of strongest loyalists of Azad, he is adamant to fight Assembly elections on Congress mandate from Bhaderwah constituency.

“I can contest elections from only from Bhaderwah, but Azad Sahab can contest elections in any of the all 87 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir,” Niaz added.

He had sacrificed his constituency for Azad in 2006 when the latter contested by-elections as Chief Minister and won with a record margin of 58,015 votes against his BJP rival Dhanatar Singh.

Meanwhile, State Congress president Saif-ud-Din Soz and Azad after consultation with party high command have given green signals to six leaders in the Jammu region who will contest on Congress tickets for Assembly polls schedule in October-November.

Sources said that from first week of August, Azad and Soz will start meeting the workers of all districts.