As the campaigning for the second phase of polling in Jammu & Kashmir is reaching its crescendo, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is growing jittery over the final outcome of lok Sabha polls.
Following consolidation of large percentage of votes in the favour of the BJP candidate contesting from Jammu-Poonch lok Sabha seat, Azad is finding it difficult to make inroads in the BJP’s strong bastion in Kathua district. Post Kishtwar riots, polarisation of votes in the region is also giving him sleepless nights.
On Thursday, four districts falling under Jammu-Poonch lok Sabha seat witnessed record 70 per cent polling. A record bump of 20 per cent votes in comparison to 2009 lok Sabha polls has already rattled the poll arithmetic of the alliance partners in the State.
Fearing similar trend on Udhampur-Doda lok Sabha seat, which goes to polls on April 17 Azad, on Friday, roped in the services of party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and CM Omar Abdullah to address campaign meeting. The turnout in the rally left a bitter taste as less than 4,000 people attended the venue to listen to them.
Since Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah chose to avoid making mention of the Kishtwar riot and earthquake victims in their respective speeches, the people gathered in the rally went back a dejected lot as they were expecting their leaders to apply balm on their wounds. The common masses, especially the youth, in the area are also angry over poor development and lack of employment and educational opportunities.
PCC Chief Prof Saif Ud Din Soz present on the occasion reminded voters to understand the importance of every single vote and urged them to exercise their franchise with utmost caution in support of a candidate promising peace and prosperity. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also made an effort to caution the voters not to fall prey to the divisive forces while training guns on PDP and BJP.
lashing at the PDP Omar said, “by fielding a local candidate from the hilly district PDP is tactically dividing the secular votes to help BJP’s PM nominee Narendra Modi”.Political observers told The Pioneer,” on one hand Omar and Azad are denying presence of pro Modi wave in J&K and on the other hand Omar is targeting PDP for fielding a candidate in the elections”.
Significantly, before shifting base to hilly Doda and Kishtwar districts to intensify his campaigning Azad spent almost one long week doing road shows to woo electorate in the region. Though Azad was accompanied by his wife and son Saddam Azad during the campaigning the poor response of the electorate and declining rush of supporters has made him nervous. Narendra Modi’s rally in Hiranagar had also galvanised party cadre in the area.
Out of five assembly constituencies in Kathua district BJP had won three assembly seats in 2008 Assembly polls while congress managed to win only one seat, and another seat was pocketed by an independent candidate from Kathua. Out of six Assembly seats in Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts though congress had won five seats in 2008 Assembly polls but post Kishtwar riots the congress legislators faced wrath of people as they failed to turn up to help the needy.
Due to inhospitable terrain and absence of motorable roads Azad is relying on a chopper of a private company to reach out to the remote hamlets to deliver his message seeking their support in return. “It is turning out to be a challenging campaign for Union Health Minister, a congress worker in Doda claimed.
To counter the campaign of the alliance candidate BJP leaders are focusing their attention in the hilly belt and BJP Chief Rajnath Singh is also scheduled to address a campaign meeting in support of BJP candidate Dr Jitendra Singh in Udhampur on April 15.