JK Congress finalizes mandate Dazing saaim.... Srinagar, Aug 25: The J&K Congress Monday recommended its candidates for the forthcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir to the High Command. The party however withheld mandates for three constituencies—Tangmarg, Kulgam and Khansahib—where it is understood to have a “tacit understanding” with MLAs representing these areas. The mandates were finalized in a meeting of the Congress Election Committee chaired here by Prof Saifuddin Soz and attended by former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Sources told Greater Kashmir that the names of two candidates shortlisted already by various panels were discussed and a final list of the candidates was drafted. “The list will be sent to the Screening Committee headed by Congress leader Ajay Maken, who, in consultation with party president Sonia Gandhi and other members, would approve the same. The final decision will be conveyed to the State leadership within seven to 10 days,” they said. Sources said the Election Committee comprises leaders including Tara Chand, Sham Lal Sharma, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, Muhammad Muzaffar Parray, Ravinder Sharma and Ghulam Nabi Monga. “The EC unanimously decided to give mandate to former Health Minister Shabir Khan from Rajouri,” they said. Khan resigned after facing charges of molestation of a lady doctor. Sources said the Congress leaders after getting fresh feedback from the other members of the Election Committee decided to repeat all the existing legislators. “All the existing 16 legislators would be contesting their respective constituencies in Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh,” the sources said. Congress has three legislators from Kashmir, one from Leh and rest from Jammu region. Reliable sources said the members evolved a consensus to recommend Chaudhary Muhammad Akram for Surankote Assembly segment. Akram is the son of deceased Congress leader Chaudhary Muhammad Aslam. “Akram had resigned from the post of Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) R&B department some six months back,” sources said. They said the Election Committee also advocated Salman Soz’s name for Baramulla Assembly segment. On the Chief Ministerial candidate, sources said, the party leaders decided that the issue will be resolved after the polls. The Congress leaders Soz and Azad won’t contest the Assembly polls, they said. From Srinagar district, the party has selected a few segments to contest from. These include Eidgah, Hazratbal, Zadibal, Habba Kadal and Sonwar. It is eying a woman candidate for Zadibal. “The Election Committee also decided that no candidate will be fielded in the constituencies like Tangmarg, Kulgam and Khan Sahib. The party has an understanding with the representatives of these constituencies and feels that the trio, Ghulam Hassan Mir, M Y Tarigami and Hakeem Yaseen, be given a safe passage,” a source said. Talking to Greater Kashmir, Prof Soz admitted that the list of candidates was finalized in the meeting and will be forwarded to the Screening Committee. Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Aug 2014 21:30:00 Makkah time Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Aug 2014 18:30:00 GMT Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Aug 2014 00:00:00 IST
Posted on: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 03:03:05 +0000
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