Bandipora, Nov 09: Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir are unlikely to be held anytime soon, however, the infighting among National Conference party cadres in Bandipora constituency has taken a centre stage over poll tickets much earlier.
The internal rivalry between two camps in the party’s Bandipora unit came out in public on Wednesday when district president Ghulam Rasool Naz skipped the party convention that was presided over by former chief minister and NC vice-president Omar Abdullah.
During the party convention in Bandipora Omar Abdullah, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) announced from the stage that those who skipped the event will be expelled from the party immediately.
“There is no room for indiscipline in our party,” he said, adding that the party general secretary, Ali Mohammad Sagar will issue a formal order regarding the same.
Naz, a two-time MLA, is an old loyalist of the NC in Bandipora district and has been instrumental in keeping the flock of party cadres together even during the tough times.
The infighting within Bandipora unit began after NC announced constituency in-charges for assembly segments across the Kashmir Valley on November 2 last year.
The appointment of advocate Nazir Ahmad Malik, who sources say is seen close to party vice-president Omar Abdullah, as constituency head didn’t go down well with the camp led by Naz.
Naz’s daughter-in-law, Dr. Bilquees former chief medical officer Bandipora, has also eyeing NC ticket from Bandipora constituency but appointment of Malik as constituency in-charge is seen as snubbing by the party high-command from Naz’s camp.
Both Malik and Bilquees have been separately carrying out political activities in Bandipora, creating confusion among the party’s cadre.
Not only Malik and Dr Bilquees, there are other aspirants as well for NC’s ticket in the constituency. Sameer Iqbal Bhat, who was NC’s youth vice-president for north Zone, had also resigned from the party over the announcement of Malik being appointed as constituency in-charge.
However, he recently returned to the party fold after resigning from the People’s Conference that he had joined earlier this year.
As the infighting grows further with the expulsion of Ghulam Rasool Naz it remains to be seen who the party will go with provided assembly elections are held anytime soon—(KNO)
