Jammu, Nov 28: The ruling National Conference and Congress are likely to face stiff competition this time from the opposition parties in two major sub-regions - Chenab Valley and Peer Panchal – of Jammu, which remained unprecedented in the state cabinet, despite sending maximum candidates from the two parties to the state assembly, in the upcoming Panchayat elections, likely to be held early next year.
 In most of the areas people the ruling party MLAs are reportedly facing public ire as they fell dejected and discriminated, one of the MLA, preferring anonymity, admitted saying, “Both the parties fear to loose their vote bank in the far off areas in the upcoming rural body elections”.
 Shabir Ahmed Khan from Rajouri and Ajaz Ahmed Khan from Gool are the only two junior ministers from the two sub-regions in the state government. National Conference has only one seat (Sajad Ahmed Kichloo from Kishtwar) from Chenab Valley, while all other six seats have gone to Congress. Similarly, excluding two seats of Darhal and Mendhar, five assembly segments from twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch are being represented by the ruling alliance MLAs.
 From Jammu district the ruling alliance has five MLAs and a MLC in the cabinet, which itself speaks volumes about the approach of the policy makers towards the rural areas. 

Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST