Rajouri, Jan 21: Hectic lobbying is going on in Congress for grabbing the post of Vice-Chairman Jammu & Kashmir State Advisory Board for development of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
 The post of Vice-Chairman Pahari Board has gone to National Conference and the two partners of the ruling coalition have already agreed to share the two positions.
 The post of VC Gujjar-Bakerwal Board is vacant for last four years after the demise of Haji Buland Khan of NC. Khan held the post for more than 14 years.
 Well informed sources in the Congress told Greater Kashmir that hectic lobbying was on as the loyalists of state Congress chief Saif-ud-Din Soz as well as party dissidents were making hard efforts to get the post.
 Sources said veteran Gujjar leader Choudhary Muhammad Aslam of Surankote has turned down the offer made to him by the state Congress. Aslam’s name was making rounds in the party circles as he was considered to be the best man for the post. Though Aslam is considered to be among the dissidents, Soz had also reportedly given node to his name to rope him into his camp.
 Though several Gujjar leaders from across the state were lobbying hard, four of them were said to be in close contest- two from Poonch district and two from Jammu district.
 From Poonch, sources said, Chowdhary Bashir Ahmed Naz and former minister Choudhary Lal Muhammad Sabir are in the race. The duo is facing tough fight from Chowdhary Shah Muhammad and Ghani Kholi from Jammu. Sources said Ghani Kholi is supported by Saif-ud-Din Soz while Shah Muhammad has ‘good wishes’ of Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
 Reliable sources in Congress told Greater Kashmir that Soz has finalized the name of Ghani Kholi on the point that it would strengthen the party in Kalakote constituency, from where Kholi unsuccessfully contested the last assembly elections.
 Kholi had secured only 1000 votes in comparison to 14000 of NC’s Ashok Sharma who won the seat. Interestingly, Sharma was denied mandate by Soz resulting in his revolt.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST