LOK SABHA BY-POLLS

Cong cadres strongly favour running alone

SHABIR AHMAD

SRINAGAR: With bye elections for Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha elections expected in April, the chance of alliance between Congress and National Conference are less likely.
Most of the leaders in Congress favour that elections should be held without any alliance with National Conference as the party has strong candidates for both the constituencies.
The Anantnag seat had fallen vacant after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who represented the constituency in the LoK Sabha, resigned on July 4 following her election to the Legislative Assembly. Srinagar Lok Sabha seat had also fallen vacant in September after PDP leader Tariq Hamid Karra had resigned from the party as well as Lok Sabha. He later joined Congress.
Pertinently, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had postponed by-poll to the Anantnag Assembly constituency after Jammu and Kashmir Government raised concerns over law and order situation in the district.
The by-elections for both the parliamentary constituencies, Anantnag and Srinagar are now to be held on or before the 17 April next year as the ECI has moved the file to Union Law ministry for final notification.
A top Congress leader said that most of the members are favoring no alliance with NC in coming by elections. He said that in case of alliance, there might be divide in the party. The leader said that feedback has been given senior party leaders including the JKPCC president.
The leader said most the leaders are favoring to contest at both the seat with Tariq Hamid Karra for Srinagar and G A Mir for Anantnag. “Karra defeated Farooq Abdullah and he has strong footing in central Kashmir,” the senior Congress leaders told The News Now. He added that Mir too has strong footing in south Kashmir. “There is no fun in contest jointly with NC as we have strong base at both the places,” the leader said adding that they want Karra to play bigger role in strengthening the party further.
JKPCC, State President, Ghulam Ahmad Mir they will deliberate on issue. He said that the issue has so far been not discussed. “Once there is signal about elections, we will hold threadbare discussions with all members about the issue,” he said. “Then we will give feedback to high command weather to align with NC or no.”