Politics at Play
Digvijay Mahajan
Jammu Tawi, June 9: The latest grapevine from the pine forests of Kathua-Udhampur terrain suggests that the political ‘Mentor' of its Member Parliament and MoS in PMO Dr. Jitender Singh may soon become his tormentor. As the saying goes, in politics, there are no permanent friends and foes.
All knowing, Dr. Jatindra Singh was patted by Mr. Aun Jaitley after the former gained proximity to the Man-Friday of Mr. Nariender Modi. Jaitley paved the way for Dr. Jitender for his candidature from Kathua-Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency. Jaitley even got Dr. Jitender well placed at PMO as his eyes and ears, little knowing that he would create a political space for himself in the politics and in the eyes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sensing that Dr. Jitender is making attempts to outgrow from the shadows of his mentor and carve out his own political space in the power corridors, his mentor seems worried and clash of interest between Arun Jaitley and Jitender Singh seems emerging steadily.
Though, Dr. Jitender Singh, a non-political man does not have any comparison to Mr. Arun Jaitely's political maneuvering particularly in close circle of Prime Minister Narender Modi, Jaitley would not allow any prospective competitor to emerge.
Arun Jaitely, though ostensibly presents Dr. Jitender Singh as one of his close friends and a follower but he does not want him to be strong enough to emerge as a future threat.
The political observers state some reasons for that:
It is discussed within party circle that Mr. Arun Jaitley has been in search of a readymade and safe constituency from which he could win elections in the next Lok Sabha polls. He has tried Amritsar but failed. On the other hand, his keen indulgence in J&K politics is well known due to his family connection with late Girdhari Lal Dogra, his father-in-law who was a very popular leader in Kathua-Udhampur belt. He has a reason to stake his claim for this constituency for being the son-in-law of late Girdhari Lal Dogra who still commands respect.
If he chooses to do so, he will be doing it at the cost of Dr. Jitender Singh. Inner circle indicates that Arun Jaitley has already very quietly chosen Kathua-Udhampur constituency for himself. But apparently Dr. Jitender Singh is a big hurdle with a readymade vote bank in the constituency. Additionally, Arun Jaitley is not clear if Dr. Jitender Singh will resist it.
Dr. Jitender Singh an upper caste Rajput and his family carry the surname “Rana” with pride. He has been nursing his constituency from day one and tried to achieve whatever is possible for his constituency. Being MoS in Prime Minister Office he has been successful of getting some important things done for his constituency.
Arun Jaitley has already silently eroded the base of Dr. Jitender Singh. Mr. Pawan Kumar Gupta, son of old BJP stalwart late Mr. Shiv Charan Gupta who survived the Modi storm in Assembly election and won as independent candidate from Udhampur has been a strong supporter of Dr. Jitender Singh. He was shown the doors and eased out from the council of ministers as Dr. Jitender could not muster enough support for him. Pawan had worked very hard to ensure the success of Dr. Jitender Singh but he may not do much for the ‘Doctor' in the next election because of the treatment met out to him by the party.
Similarly, All India Institute of Medical Sciences that was earlier assured to come up in Kathua district has been skipped to Samba district without Dr. Jitender Singh knowing it.
Presumably, there is no direct tussle between the two key figures but it may emerge whenever the tickets are distributed for the new parliamentary elections.
