The decision of Gupkar Alliance to contest DDC elections seems to be crumbling on ground as National Conference is adamant on contesting all the segments. But the ground scenario is showing reluctance of NC and Congress at various constituencies, as they fielded seprate candidates.
Party sources said that NC leadership in Kishtwar has conveyed to party high command that it has fielded candidates from all the segments and there was no possibility of withdrawal as party cadre is sure to win all the seats on its own.
In first phase party has fielded the son of its senior leader Ghulam Rasool Magray from Marwah and Block President Warwan Ab Razak from Warwan. PDP was given Warwan and Marwah was given to NC but at last moment NC also fielded candidate from Warwan contrary to the alliance agreement.
A senior NC leader said that party was forced to field from Warwan after being insisted by local cadre.
The PDP, another partner in the alliance, feels betrayed in the first phase and has now readied its candidates on all other segments. In phase 2 nominations for Dachan and Paddar have been called and both NC and PDP is fielding its candidates.
A PDP leader said that alliance central leadership has cleared Sheikh Nasir Hussain Advocate for Kishtwar segment and Mohd Ibrahim Shah for Palmar. “But NC leaders in the district seems to have a different thought. We had tried our best to work out the issues and ensure that only single alliance candidate is fielded on each segment but NC leadership is bent upon to give an edge to BJP”, the PDP leader said.
“People are wise enough to understand what is cooking up behind the curtain,” he said while adding, “We had offered majority of seats to NC in larger interests of alliance but the way local leadership was acting it was clear that they don’t even honour the top party leadership. We can’t carry the burden of alliance on our shoulders alone”.
Apni Party leader and former MLC Syed Asgar Ali has meanwhile reached Kishtwar and is in process to field candidates from each segment. “We will contest from all the segments of the district and we are sure to perform well”, a leader of the party said.
BJP has finalised the list of candidates for initial phases and rest was being finalised. A party leader said that party is expecting to win at least 10 out of 14 segments in the district.
Meanwhile, Congress recently joined the alliance and the party had fielded it’s own candidates earlier at various constituencies. Sudden entrance in alliance had disturbed the scenario of Congress at ground zero. As per sources, Congress is still campaigning separately for its candidates at various places without any consent or agreement to the alliance. Talking to Chenab Times, senior Congress leader and Block President Congress Thathri Asgar Hussain Khanday said, “The high command announced to tie up with the alliance but the decision is not yet came into force at ground level. We are still waiting for the decision of high command for us regarding alliance as Party had announced it at higher level.”
The scene of Congress is still understood, as they have recently announced for alliance with PAGD and may decide to agree with the alliance at ground level too but National Conference’s reluctance had changed the scenario of the ground in Kishtwar and some other constituencies.
However so far both the parties have fielded its candidates. Congress is meanwhile said to be in touch with NC leadership in Inderwal. However both parties have fielded its seprate candidate so far and there is no impact of alliance to both parties as both party’s candidates are willing to contest. So far, PAGD alliance is seen as totally broken down in various constituencies at ground zero.
The Chenab Times News Desk