Srinagar: The Omar Abdullah-led Government has secured representation from the Jammu region, thanks to the support of four independent candidates. Pyare Lal Sharma from Inderwal, Satish Sharma from Chhamb, Chaudhary Mohammed Akram from Surankote, and Dr. Rameshwar Singh from Bani have all pledged their support to the National Conference (NC).
This development addresses concerns about Jammu’s representation in the NC government, as 29 out of 43 seats in Jammu were won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Notably, Dr. Rameshwar Singh defeated BJP’s Jewan Lal from Bani in Kathua district by a significant margin of 18,672 votes.
Among the four supporting MLAs, Pyare Lal Sharma is an NC rebel who contested as an independent after the seat-sharing agreement between NC and Congress. Satish Sharma, a Congress rebel, is the son of late Congress leader Madan Lal Sharma. Chaudhary Mohammed Akram, son of a veteran Congress leader, joined NC before the polls and defeated the Congress candidate by over 8,000 votes.
With this support, the NC-led government has bolstered its presence in the assembly, ensuring representation from the Jammu region. This move is seen as strategic, addressing regional balance and strengthening the government’s stance.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its support for the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) led by Omar Abdullah. A formal letter of support was submitted to the Lieutenant Governor’s office, solidifying the alliance.
This move comes on the heels of AAP’s historic victory in the Doda constituency, where Mehraj Malik defeated BJP’s Gajay Singh Rana by 4,538 votes. Malik’s win marked AAP’s maiden entry into the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
AAP’s decision to back the JKNC government underscores the party’s commitment to collaborative governance. With its sole MLA, Mehraj Malik, AAP’s support is crucial in bolstering the Omar Abdullah-led government.
“Aam Aadmi Party will extend support to JKNC in Jammu & Kashmir. The letter of support has been submitted to the Lt Governor,” AAP stated, reaffirming its commitment to the alliance. KNT
4 independents from Jammu, AAP extend support to NC
