Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI/POONCH, Oct 16: A large number of jubilant National Conference supporters and Congress activists from Pir Panjal belt, including Rajouri and Poonch, celebrated induction of two local leaders, Surinder Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister and Javed Rana as a Cabinet Minister in the Omar Abdullah-led government in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir today,
Omar took oath as the Chief Minister as the first elected government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Surinder Choudhary, who defeated BJP’s J&K chief Ravinder Raina from Nowshera in Rajouri district, and Rana, representing Mendhar in Poonch district, were among the four victorious NC candidates in the Pir Panjal belt. The NC-Congress alliance secured five of the eight seats in this region.
As the two leaders took oath in Srinagar, NC and Congress supporters and workers were on the roads and streets in Nowshera, Rajouri, Mendhar and Poonch besides other areas other areas celebrating with traditional drum and dancing. In Nowshera, Surinder Choudhary’s hometown, National Conference workers and supporters distributed sweets and raised slogans in support of NC and Abdullahs.
Locals expressed gratitude to the National Conference for appointing Choudhary as Deputy Chief Minister.
Balwinder Singh, a local leader from Nowshera, area said that they are very happy that for the first time Pir Panjal belt has got Deputy Chief Minister and a Cabinet Minister to represent their region forcefully in the Assembly. ” We are deeply grateful to Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for this gift to the region.”
Singh said that Choudhary’s victory over BJP’s Ravinder Raina was significant. “Despite the BJP’s full support from Delhi and all efforts to secure the seat, it was the local people’s support that ensured Surinder Choudhary’s win,” he added.
Shafkat Ahmed Mir NC’s provincial secretary expressed that the NC has made history by inducting Surinder Choudhary as the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He highlighted that this is the first time someone from Rajouri-Poonch has been appointed to such a position, and he believes that Surinder Choudhary, being a visionary leader, will bring significant development not only to the people of Poonch and Rajouri but to the entire region.
Mir emphasized that the public has high expectations from Choudhary, who will undoubtedly represent both districts with dedication and drive positive change across the region. He said people of Rajouri and Poonch are grateful to the NC leadership for considering Choudhary’s name for the prestigious position, calling it a historic moment for the area.
Mir also praised Javed Rana, who has taken oath as Minister, describing him as a very senior leader with immense public trust. He stated that both leaders are expected to accomplish great work for the region and the people they represent.
Another NC leader from Rajouri, Sarfeaz said that the people’s support led to Choudhary’s success and that the NC rewarded him with a key post in recognition of his win. “The NC will now work for the development of the region, which has been neglected for the past 10 years,” he said.
Surinder Choudhary, 56, who joined NC at the age of 27, had previously been an MLC during the PDP government. Choudhary, once a close confidant of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, left the party in 2021 and briefly joined the BJP in 2022 before rejoining NC in July 2023.
He defeated BJP’s Ravinder Raina by a margin of 7,819 votes in the Nowshera constituency of Rajouri district in the 2024 elections. Choudhary polled 35,069 votes, while Raina secured 27,250.
Choudhary expressed gratitude to the NC leadership, saying, “It is a matter of pride for the Pir Panjal, especially my constituency Nowshera. I deeply thank Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah for their trust. I have no words to express my gratitude.”
Javed Rana, 61, who has represented Mendhar since 2002 and was re-elected for the third time, also took the oath as one of the four Ministers.
Rana defeated Murtaza Ahmed Khan of the BJP by a margin of 14,906 votes. In addition to his tenure as MLA, Rana has also served as an MLC.
A large number of people thronged the house of Rana in Mendhar to celebrate his induction in the Ministry. The party workers danced and distributed sweets to mark the occasion.
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