PDP, Cong lock horns

March 20,2004

PDP, Cong lock horns over Baramula seat
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 19
The Congress stalwarts, Mr Mangat Ram Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister and Dr Karan Singh, the former ruler of the state, were reportedly reluctant to contest the Lok Sabha election from the Jammu and Udhampur constituencies, respectively, although the party high command was keen that they should contest.

On the other hand, the Congress was also facing problems because of the adamant attitude of Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed, who has refused to leave the Baramula seat in Kashmir for the Congress. The PDP has announced that it would field its candidates on all three seats of the valley.

The supporters of Mr Sharma had told the party leaders that he should not be asked to contest the Lok Sabha election as there was no other legislator of his stature who could replace him as Deputy Chief Minister.

However, the election committee of the party had shortlisted Mr Sharma, Mr Madan Lal Sharma, Minister for PWD and Mr Ashok Sharma for the Jammu seat. Dr Karan Singh, Mr Lal Singh, Health Minister and Mr R.S. Chib, figured in the list for the Udhampur seat.

The party had named a former PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Rasool Kar, as its candidate for the Baramula seat, but with the PDP crossing swords with its coalition partner. Congress on the issue, the problem was expected to be sorted out only after a discussion between Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Mufti. However, Mufti was adamant that the PDP should be allowed to contest all three seats of the valley, while the Congress should be contended with the two seats of Jammu and the lone seat of Ladakh.

But the Congress was insisting that its presence in the valley would get marked only if it was allowed to contest the Baramula seat. The Congress had never won any Lok Sabha seat in the valley for the past about 28 years after Shiekh Abdullah came into power.

The crisis had deepened with Ms Mehbooba Mufti, President of the PDP, announcing the panel of her party candidates for the Baramula seat. Her statement invited immediate reaction of Mr Abdul Gani Vakil, senior vice-president of the PCC, who announced at a press conference at Srinagar that the Congress would contest all seats in the valley if the PDP did not leave the Baramula seat for the Congress.

The PCC chief, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, was trying to pacify both coalition partners and a final decision was expected only when Ms Sonia Gandhi and the Mufti met.