MLC choices: PDP in consolidation mode, BJP expands footprint
TNN Bureau. Updated: 3/28/2017 1:45:06 AM
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JAMMU: With barely a day left for the filing of nominations for the six about to be vacant seats of Upper House of the state legislature, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the Bhartiya Janta Party have chosen their candidates keeping in view their future priorities.
Choice of candidates suggests that the Peoples Democratic Party is keen at consolidating its position in its core constituency of Muslim dominated areas while the Bhartiya Janta Party wants to ambitiously expand its footprint in the areas where it doesn't have adequate representation. The BJP is believed to have zeroed in on the candidature of Pradeep Sharma for the reserved seat of Poonch and Ajay Bharti for the Kashmir seat. On one of the two unreserved seats for Jammu, the BJP is believed to fielding Vikram Randhawa. However, it is tough situation as the PDP-BJP combine doesn't have the adequate numbers in Legislative Assembly to win the third seat in Jammu.
The PDP has nominated Abdul Qayoom Dar from Rajouri. Dar has remained party's district president and was appointed in 2015 as Administrator of Auqaf Islamia in Shadara Sharief shrine. The other nominee from the PDP is Yasir Reshi, who is already an MLC whose term is expiring on April 19. Reshi is from Bandipore district in north Kashmir.