Srinagar, Nov 06 :
As the electoral contest in the Budgam Assembly constituency intensifies, Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Aga Ruhullah Mehdi has decided against endorsing any particular candidate and has left it to the people to make their own decision, sources disclosed.
Sources told news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that Ruhullah, who holds considerable influence in the segment, has chosen not to endorse or support any candidate.
“He has placed faith in the people to make their own choice(s). He wouldn’t ask them to vote for any particular candidate,” they said.
Three-time MLA Ruhullah, who has emerged as the most vocal voice for the restoration of Article 370, is at odds with the National Conference over a range of issues and did not campaign for the party.
His latest disagreement with the National Conference centers on the rationalization of reservation. On October 18, Ruhullah demanded that the cabinet sub-committee’s report on reservation be made public, stating that his future decision regarding the Budgam by-polls would be guided by the contents of the report.
The Budgam seat, vacated following Omar Abdullah’s resignation, is set to go to polls on November 11. The constituency is witnessing a direct contest between National Conference’s Aga Mehmood and Peoples Democratic Party candidate Aga Muntazir Mehdi, while independent candidate Nazir Ahmad Khan, supported by the Awami Ittehad Party, is gaining ground-adding complexity to the race.
Other contenders in the fray include Aga Syed Mohsin (BJP), Jibran Dar (Independent), Muntazir Mohiuddin (Independent), Deeba Khan (Aam Aadmi Party), Mukthar Dar (Apni Party), and Sameer Ahmad (Independent)—(KNO)