Jammu, Sep 23: Union Health Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday made it clear that he will have a role to play in the state politics.
 “Yes, I have a role to play in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir,” Azad, who was chief minister of the state between 2005 and 2008, told reporters during his visit to the under-construction Super-Specialty Hospital here. He was responding to a question regarding his role in the next assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
 The union minister, who was in Jammu for two days, however, parried queries when specifically asked by reporters that what role he was envisaging for himself in the state.
 After delivering victories in several key states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, the ‘crisis manager’ of the Congress surprised many when he led the party successfully in the 2002 Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
 He superseded Mufti Muhammad Sayeed as a chief minister of the state during the alliance between Congress and Peoples Democratic Party. However, his three years tenure was cut short by the PDP, which withdrew its support to the government over the Amarnath land row leading to the early assembly polls in 2008.
 In the second United Progressive Alliance Government, led by Dr Manmohan Singh, Azad, was inducted as the Union Health Minister.
 Azad, according to sources, is keen to stage a comeback to the state politics ad has already started preparing the ground for the purpose.
 According to sources, in an attempt to consolidate his position in the State politics for a comeback, Azad is eyeing around 27 to 30 seats for the Congress in the next assembly polls in the state.
 Azad, according to sources, is also grooming a third front in the state with individuals like MY Tarigami, Hakim Muhammad Yasin, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Er Rashid, Sajad Lone and others to keep both National Conference and PDP in the new power game.
 Meanwhile, over the prevailing crises in the UPA government, Azad today slammed Trinamool Congress saying that steps like allowing FDI in retail sector, hiking diesel prices and limiting cap on domestic LPG could have been taken earlier if there was no pressure from parties like the one headed by Mamata Banerjee.
 Ruling out any threat to the UPA government following withdrawal of support by TMC, the senior Congress leader said, “Our government has support of over 300 MPs in the Lok Sabha, including members from parties giving inside and outside support.”
 For a simple majority, government needs the support of at least 273 MPs in a House of 545.
 Stoutly defending the decisions, he said every country needed to take strong steps for the betterment of its economy. “This strong step will be better for the country,” he said.
 Azad said the Prime Minister has already clarified that if these steps were not taken, the country would have faced 1991 like situation when gold had to be mortgaged to tide over economic crisis.
 “India has managed well on the economic front despite global economy facing recession during the past few years,” he said.
 Earlier, during his visit to the upcoming Super-Specialty Hospital here, Azad said it would be commissioned this calendar year.
 Getting latest update over various facets of the prestigious project at a high powered meeting of top officials from the Union Health Ministry and the State Government, Azad said that final touches are being given to the logistics and other infrastructural activities.
 Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand and Minister for Medical Education, R S Chib were present in the meeting.
 Secretary Health and Medical Education M K Dwivedi gave a Power Point presentation over the status of different works undertaken so far.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST