Sumit Hakhoo
Jammu, Feb 8: Lobbying has intensified in the ruling National Conference, which is likely to get Deputy Chairman’s post in the state Legislative Council, the elections of which have been fixed for February 24.
 Sources said that as per the agreement arrived between the coalition partners; Congress will retain the post of Chairman, while NC will get the Deputy Chairman’s post.
 Though various NC stalwarts are lobbying for the coveted post, sources said that recently elected Member of Legislative Council (MLC) of the party D S Oberoi is emerging as the front runner and is likely to be elected as Deputy Chairman uncontested.
 Sources said the Core Committee of the NC has short listed Oberoi and Muhammad Yusuf Taing for the coveted post, but the former is emerging as the final choice for being from the minority community.
 A senior ruling party leader said that both the coalition partners have already reached on the agreement to elect acting Chairman, Amrit Malhotra, as full fledged head of the council for next two years. “Elections are a mere formality. While in Legislative Assembly, Speaker is from NC, so in upper house Chairman has to be from the Congress, while the post of deputy will remain with NC”, said a source.
 For the past few years the business in Upper House was being conducted by former Deputy Chairman  Arvinder Singh Micky, whose tenure ended in September last year. Later Governor had appointed Malhotra as caretaker Chairman on the recommendation of the state government.
 “Oberoi and Taing are both senior members of the NC, but party leadership is more interested to give representation to the Sikh community from the Valley,” sources said. 
 In December last year, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry had proposed February 17 for holding election for both the posts, but later Governor N N Vohra re-fixed the date as February 24, a day after the Legislative Assembly session will start.
 At present there are 29 members in the upper house of the Legislature and the ruling alliance has got the clear majority.
 PDP has five MLCs, while National Panthers Party has one member, rest of the members belong to the ruling coalition. One Congress seat has fallen vacant with the death of MLC Yash Pal Khajuria.
 Apart from this there are seven vacancies in the House of 36, including four from the quota of Panchayats and two from Urban Local Bodies besides one form reserved quota.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 8 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 9 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST