Karra, Omar among top leaders to face alliance rebels
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 6: The National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance has hit rough weather in Kashmir as party rebels are contesting as Independents against the alliance nominees in many constituencies.
The NC leader and former Member Legislative Assembly (MLA), Irfan Ahmad Shah, is contesting as Independent candidate from Shalteng Central Assembly constituency against Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president, Tariq Hamid Karra, who is alliance candidate for the constituency.
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Shah contesting against Karra is a major setback to the NC-Cong pre-poll alliance. He is the son of the former Minister and NC general secretary, late Ghulam Mohiuddin Shah.
Shah was denied a party ticket from Shalteng where he and his late father had significant influence. “I am contesting because the NC has consistently demoralised its workers. My people have compelled me to take this step,” he said.
C-vice president, Omar Abdullah is also facing an alliance rebel. The Congress district president of Ganderbal, Sahil Farooq, defied the party and is contesting against Omar.
Farooq told Excelsior that it is a friendly contest with Omar as the alliance partners have in 5 other constituencies. “People of Ganderbal wanted a local candidate and the alliance didn’t give ticket to any local. They didn’t want an outsider here. I have decided to contest so that there is local representation,” he added.
Congress J&K general secretary, Waseem Shalla, resigned from the party and is contesting as an Independent against NC stalwart and general secretary of the party and 6-time legislator, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
“We were against alliance with NC as it is not in the party’s interest. Our workers were against it. I left the party to contest elections as an Independent,” he said.
Srinagar district president of the Congress, Imtiyaz Khan, also resigned from the party and is contesting elections against NC leader and former Speaker of the Assembly Mubarak Gul.
Gul is the two-time legislator of NC from Eidgah, while Khan has been active in the segment for the last several years. “We were not taken on board when the alliance was made. I have been working hard in my constituency and have a lot of support from here. The seat was given to the NC against the interests of the party workers, so I am contesting as an Independent,” he told Excelsior.
Another Congress leader Asif Beigh, who was a Congress Municipal Councillor from Habakadal, also resigned and is contesting against NC former legislator Shamima Firdous. Beigh said that he has a sizable vote bank in the constituency and leaving the seat to NC was not the right decision.
NC leader Dr Ghulam Nabi Bhat from Tral revolted against the party and is contesting as an Independent candidate after the seat was left to Congress. Congress leader Channi Singh is contesting from Tral as alliance candidate.
“This seat should have been given to NC as the party has a strong base here. It was done against the party interests, so I decided to quit and contest as an Independent candidate,” he said.
Congress leader Chowdary Gulzar Khatana is also contesting as Independent after seat was left for NC in seat sharing arrangement. NC has fielded Chowdary Zaffer Ahmad from Larnoo constituency.
Khatana was yesterday expelled from the basic membership of the Congress party. JKPCC spokesperson declared that he has been expelled from the basic membership of the party, with immediate effect for contesting as an Independent candidate against the spirit of alliance.
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