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.
Just as Reliance's entry in the 4G market had revolutionized the internet in India, Adani Group's
The upcoming season of Colors TV's controversial reality show Bigg Boss is being discussed a lot
Vivo T1x launched in India, got powerful features at a low price, know details
Vivo T1x Launch: Chinese smartphone brand Vivo has launched its new phone Vivo T1x in the Indian
The world witnessed the strict attitude of the administration of Donald Trump towards China and d
Punjab Election 2022: Captain filed nomination from Patiala, said- alliance with BJP for development
Former Punjab CM and Lok Congress Party chief Captain Amarinder Singh has filed his nomination pa
BJP rebel outfit in Himachal heads for split
Shimla, March 16 (IANS) The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), a political outfit formed around two y
Israel-Hamas War: Ceasefire has been announced for the first time amid the Israel-Hamas war. Qata
Congress will again back AAP if needed: Dikshit (Lead)
New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) The Congress was ready to support an AAP government again in the event
Rajya Sabha member Manorama Sharma is dead
Gurgaon, Feb 18 (IANS) Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member from Uttarakhand Manorama Dobriya
Pakistan: Conflict over control over Afghanistan, increased the rift between Pak army and ISI chief
Since the advent of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, Pakistan has become more active and is interferi
