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.
46 days have passed since the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and in the meantime, while
The air quality in the country's capital Delhi is worsening. Due to this, the people of Delhi are
After Coast Guard chase, Pakistani boat explodes, sinks (Lead)
New Delhi, Jan 2 (IANS) A suspicious Pakistani fishing boat exploded into a ball of fire off th
Party changing leaders before Bihar election 2020: How much public interest, how much opportunism?
Even though Bihar's general life is in crisis due to flood and corona epidemic, the politics-rela
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde displayed sensitivity and empathy during his stay in his home distri
Covid Update: Corona cases decreasing in India, 2,424 new cases in 24 hours, 15 deaths
The cases of corona in the country are once again seeing a spurt. According to the data released
Jaitley's 'safe' run ends with Amarinder's entry
Amritsar, March 24 (IANS) It is highly unlikely that Amritsar will be a 'safe' Lok Sabha seat f
There is no hope of getting relief from the heat in the capital of Delhi at the moment. The Meteo
Toilet use should be Lifestyle Choice: Naidu
New Delhi, Jan 19 (IANS) The use of toilets should be a "lifestyle" choice for all, especially
Snowfall has started in the higher altitude areas of Himachal. Losar in Lahaul Spiti district has
