Naveed-Ul-Haq
Srinagar, Jan 25: Amid indications that the National Conference (NC) is fielding its senior leader Nasir Aslam Wani from the Budgam Assembly segment, he, along with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, on Saturday reached out to Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi in an apparent move to “mollify” him.
In a sudden move, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s advisor and trusted aide, Nasir Aslam Wani, along with Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary, arrived at NC MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi’s residence in central Kashmir’s Budgam town.
The meeting took place at a time when serious differences have emerged between NC and Ruhullah Mehdi after the latter staged a protest outside CM Omar Abdullah’s residence over the issue of the reservation policy.
Sources indicate that Ruhullah, who has represented the Budgam segment thrice in the Assembly, is not averse to the fielding of Wani from the Budgam seat.
After emerging from the meeting, Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary was all praise for Ruhullah. “I feel proud to meet Aga Ruhullah, who is not only a political leader but also a religious cleric,” he said.
Choudhary evaded a response to a question on who will be NC’s candidate for the Budgam Assembly seat, where by-polls have to be held before April 20. “We have come for a cup of tea and let’s talk about that only,” he responded.
The by-poll was necessitated after Omar Abdullah resigned from the Budgam seat to retain Ganderbal. Omar had won both Budgam and Ganderbal seats in the Assembly polls held last year.
The Budgam polls have assumed significance as it is the first litmus test for Omar Abdullah, who is facing questions from different quarters over his poll promises.
