National Conference vice president and the former chief minister of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah today stoked a controversy by alleging that BJP’s point-man in the UT Ram Madhav seems to be in touch with the PDP.
“Ram Madhav was the man behind stitching the BJP-PDP alliance in 2015. He is again on a mission in J&K and it seems he is touch with the PDP as he has good connections in the party,” Omar said while talking to reporters in Kangan area of Ganderbal district after National Conference MP Mian Altaf’s son Mian Mehar Ali filed his nomination papers from the seat.
Pertinently, BJP called Ram Madhav back to J&K to see how the party's slogan of “ab ki baar 50 paar” can be achieved with the help of like-minded people. BJP is eying government post Assembly elections and Madhav who was removed as BJP General Secretary was recently assigned with the “mission J&K” again. Madhav is also using his expertise in cooling the tempers of disgruntled party leaders in Jammu who were denied party tickets.
Omar hoped that Mehar Ali would live up to the expectations of the party and bag the seat as well. “Ali is carrying forward the legacy of his family and in him, the fourth generation of the Mian family is contesting polls from Kangan,” Omar said.
Mehar Ali is a best bet for NC given his father’s huge clout in Kangan that is predominantly a Gujjar-and Bakerwal vote bank. Mian Altaf is also a spiritual figure of the area for Gujjars and Bakerwals who have great faith in the sufi shrine of Baba Niazamudin Kiyani which is managed by Mian Altaf after his father Mian Bashir’s death.
Mehar Ali will fight against PDP’s Jamaat Ali Shaheen and Apni Party’s Atta Muhammad. However, Mehar is all set to emerge victorious given his father’s huge fan following in the area