Jammu Tawi, February 22: The state unit of the Congress have
suggested to the Congress high command to support the idea of forging
an alliance with the National Conference, during the ensuing Lok Sabha
poll in Srinagar and Anantnag Lok Sabha constituencies for blocking
the PDP's representation in the Lok Sabha.
The state unit of the Congress has opposed any Congress ticket
for Hameed Karra who had defected recently, from the PDP to the
Congress. Senior Congress leaders have conveyed to the Party high
command that if the Congress fielded Karra from Srinagar Lok Sabha
constituency he was bound to lose because of the rich vote bank of the
NC in the Lok Sabha constituency of Srinagar.
They have suggested to Congress high command that under the
alliance with the NC let the Congress fight the Anantnag seat and
allow the NC to field its candidate from Srinagar constituency.
The local Congress leaders have brought to the notice of party's
central leadership that the party should enter into a pre-poll
alliance with National Conference and contest Anantnag Lok Sabha seat
and leave Srinagar parliamentary constituency for its ally.
According to sources, the State Congress leaders have brought to the
notice of party president, Sonia Gandhi, and vice president, Rahul
Gandhi, that in order to cash in on the anti-incumbency wave against
the PDP, both NC and Congress should enter into a pre-poll alliance
for bypoll to two parliamentary seats – Srinagar and Anantnag.
While NC is expected to field its candidate on Srinagar seat, on the
Anantnag seat the names of Congress state president, G A Mir, and
former Minister and senior Congress leader, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed,
are being considered.
Both Mir and Peerzada had lost the 2014 Assembly elections from Dooru
and Kokernag assembly seats respectively.
The party hopes to romp home in parliamentary election from Anantnag
Lok Sabha seat due to massive anti-government protests last year.
South Kashmir was the epicentre of the over five months long unrest in
the Valley triggered by killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen
commander Burhan Wani on July 8.
At least 94 people were killed and thousands blinded and injured in
the forces action on protestors.
Both the NC and Congress had demanded judicial probe into the
killings. However, the PDP-BJP coalition government has rejected their
demand.
Reports said that since Karra has lost support from Ghulam Nabi
Azad, senior Congress leader it believed that since Ghulam Nabi Azad
is opposed to fielding Karra as Congress leader his advice will carry
weight for the High Command (KIP)
