Jammu, March 21 (IANS) Despite his initial reluctance, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will fight for the Udhampur Lok Sabha seat in Jammu and Kashmir and no one is happier over the decision than Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Top sources told IANS that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had called Azad and discussed his nomination before the party announced its fourth list of Lok Sabha candidates Thursday.
Insiders told IANS that Azad's reluctance to contest from his home Lok Sabha constituency was primarily because he is aware of the polarization in the Jammu region after the communal riots in Kishtwar town last year.
Abdullah had earlier this week expressed concern over the delay in announcement of candidates for the three Lok Sabha seats the Congress is fighting in the Jammu region in alliance with the National Conference.
After Azad's name was announced, Abdullah looked a most relieved man. He said the decision to field Azad for Udhampur Lok Sabha seat is a shot in the arm for the state's ruling alliance.
He wrote on Twitter: "Excellent decision, just what we needed. Very pleased that the Congress has fielded Azad from Udhampur LS seat. Just what was needed to give the alliance shot in the arm in Jammu."
Azad belongs to Bhelessa village in Kishtwar district of the Jammu region.
Born in 1949, Azad started his political career from this village as the Block Congress president in the erstwhile Doda district from which the present Kishtwar district was carved out.
Azad's major challenger in Udhampur is Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Jitender Singh.
Abdullah has said there is no Modi wave in the Jammu region and the Congress-National Conference alliance would win all the six Lok Sabha seats in the state.
But polarization on religious lines has been clearly visible in the region after Modi's maiden rally in Jammu last year.
Still, among all the Congress candidates fielded in the state, which include Madan Lal Sharma from Jammu and Tsering Samphel from Ladakh, Azad has the strongest political influence especially in the Chenab Valley districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban.
During his tenure as the state chief minister and also as the union health minister, Azad is seen to have done developmental work in the inaccessible hilly Chenab Valley region.
Elect Government in Delhi that works with Centre: Modi
New Delhi, Jan 31 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday asked the people of Delhi to vot
Diwali is the most important festival of Hinduism, which everyone eagerly awaits throughout the y
The Supreme Court heard again on Thursday about the lack of oxygen amid the Corona epidemic. Duri
Parliament passes motor vehicles bill
New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) Parliament approved the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2015 with t
What was Wrong with Net Wicket in Brisbane, asks Haddin: IND vs AUS
Mellbourne: India have set an aggressive tone to
PUBG Mobile has millions of fans in India, who are eagerly waiting for the return of this game. T
Lokpal: Lokpal to be sensitive while redressing complaints, RBI governor appeals
The ombudsman should be sensitive while the redressal of customer complaints. The RBI Ombudsman a
Pakistan Energy Crisis: Power crisis deepens in Pakistan, instructions to close markets soon
The economic condition of Pakistan is continuously getting worse. Due to the cash crunch, various
In Jaipur gas tanker explodes in Beelpur village on Jaipur highway, two burnt alive & 12 injured
A gas tanker explodes in Jaipur’s Beelpur village which is so closed from
Team India defeated Zimbabwe by 71 runs in the last match of Super-12 Group-2 to make it to the s
