Sacking of Saroori sends ripple in cong camp, lobbying for vacated cabinet berth begins

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Aug 26: The dismissal of G M Saroori from council of ministers of the state has sent ripples in the Congress camp where many, considering themselves as ministerial candidates, have begin lobbying for the vacated cabinet berth.

Even as, the sacked minister represented the Chenab valley, many in the party who missed the chance at the formation of council of ministers have started eying the coveted post.

If sources are to be believed, the so called contenders for the berth have started clicking on their links in the power corridors. They said that while the race for ministerial posts always remains intact within the party, the dismissal of the tainted minister has given a fresh lease of life to the whole process of lobbying and garnering supports by the contenders in their favour.

Pertinently, for now the R&B portfolio held by Saroori was taken in hand by the chief minister soon after governor accepted his recommendation, yesterday evening.

“While it will take some time to the coalition to decide on whether to fill the gap are continue with the existing number, yet many big guns in the party have stated government will take some time, sources said that main contenders have started reviving their links.

Since Saroori represented Chenab valley, spread over three districts of Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar, the case for induction of the legislators representing assembly segments of these three districts was stronger, the sources said, however adding that people from districts other than these do have some hope.

Insiders told Greater Kashmir that Congress legislator from Doda Abdul Majid Wani and MLA (Bhaderwah) Mohammed Sharif Naiz are the strong contenders for the vacated cabinet berth.

After losing his man (Saroori) from the Jammu and Kashmir government, sources said that union health minister and former J&K CM, Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to project MLA Doda, Abdul Majid Wani, another man from his group

Sources said that Wani had visited New Delhi only last week during his stay at the union capital met various leaders. The said his close association with the union minister for health makes him as strong contender.

Sources said that Azad has since long been pressing the Congress high command for the inclusion of Wani in the council of ministers , while ignoring Mohammad Sharief Niaz even later being his relative.

They said that Niaz developed distrust against Azad after the later did not inducted him in the cabinet during his stint (time) as the chief minister despite the fact that he had offered him his assembly constituency for contesting elections.

The disappointed Naiz, sources said, who later joined the camp of Pradesh Congress party president Saif-u-Din-Soz has also started hectic lobbying with his links.

Not only, MLA Doda and MLA Bhaderwah are the contenders for the ministry but two other Congress legislators MLA (Banihal) Vakar Rasool and MLC (Bhaderwah) Naresh Gupta are also likely to play their cards in the run up for the vacated cabinet berth” sources said.

While MLA Bhaderwah has been projecting himself as young and energetic leader, MLC Gupta has been pressing that a minority community leader should be given representation in the government, as the Chenab valley has the population of nearly 45 percent minority population.