Barkati likely to join fray against Omar
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Sept 3: Congress Ganderbal district president today threatened to fight as an Independent candidate against National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah if denied mandate by the party.
Omar Abdullah is contesting the Assembly elections from the Ganderbal Assembly constituency. As per the pre-poll alliance, the NC will fight from Ganderbal.
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Congress district president, Sahil Farooq today threatened to contest as an Independent candidate against Omar if the Congress doesn’t give him the party mandate.
“If we can fight a friendly contest on five seats, why not in Ganderbal as well? I am willing to contest the upcoming Assembly elections under the party’s banner if a friendly contest between the Congress and NC is permitted in the Ganderbal constituency similar to the arrangements in other constituencies,” Sahil said.
Sahil told Excelsior that the people of Ganderbal want a local candidate who can help them in resolving minor issues. “They want a local. If NC would have given a mandate to a local we had no issue. But the people feel cheated and disillusioned with fielding Omar Abdullah from here,” he said.
The Congress leader said that if his party does not allow such a contest, he will consider running as an Independent candidate, though he will remain a loyal Congress worker.
He has expressed dismay over what he calls ‘continuous neglect’ of local leaders in Ganderbal.
“I am loyal to the party, but the people of Ganderbal are facing hardships,” he said.
Sahil alleged that Ganderbal has always been kept out of the decision-making process with outsiders often being imposed on the constituency.
“Why is Ganderbal always forced to accept outsiders? Our local leaders have never been given a fair chance. If the Congress leadership does not make a decision by this evening, I will proceed to contest independently, but my commitment to the Congress party will remain unchanged. I am doing this for my downtrodden people.”
If he finally chooses to stand as an Independent candidate against Omar Abdullah, that decision could affect the dynamics of the electoral alliance between the NC and the Congress.
In the meantime, Sarjan Barkati is contemplating to file his nomination form for the Ganderbal Assembly segment.
Activist Adil Nazir Khan told Excelsior they are consulting the people in Ganderbal on Barkati’s nomination and the final decision is likely to be taken tomorrow.
The last date for filing nomination papers for the seat is September 5.
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