6 Doda legislators demand representation in Cabinet

Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Nov 14:  Congress leaders from erstwhile district Doda have sent a clear message to party leadership that sheer neglect of the hilly district is no more acceptable to them. They chose to stay away from CLP  meeting convened by PCC chief Saif-ud-Din Soz to express their resentment.
The legislators of the Upper House who boycotted this crucial meeting of CLP owe their allegiance to Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad . G M Saroori was a Minister in the Omar Abdullah led Coalition Government in the State but he had to resign following impersonation cases. However, the Minister got the clean chit from CBI and now was hopeful of getting his entry into the State Cabinet once again. Even when Saroori was out, other elected representatives from Doda were looking forward to their induction in the Cabinet which didn’t mature thereby making them sore against the party.
Five out of six seats from this region are in Congress kitty but not even a single public representative has found any berth in the Cabinet. Mohammad Sharief Niaz, MLA Bhaderwah, Abdul Majeed Wani, MLA Doda, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, MLA Inderwal, Vikar Rasool, MLA Banihal, Ashok Kumar Bhagat, MLA Ramban and Naresh Kumar Gupta, MLC all boycotted the CLP meeting thereby pressing Congress to give due representation to the region.
Mr Niaz had even vacated his seat for Mr Azad and ever since then he has not been accommodated by the party. Unfortunately, even the NC  has not given due representation to the region despite the fact that its lone member has wrested Kishtwar seat for the party. In totality, be it Congress or NC, the region was neglected by both political outfits despite being in coalition.  The level of resentment amongst elected representatives from this region seems to have reached boiling point and this action of theirs is enough indication for Congress to understand that it cannot take its legislators for granted.