Cong CM candidate Azad backing out?

A day after Congress projected its J-K unit president Ghulam Nabi Azad as the party8217;s chief ministerial candidate, Azad has reportedly ...

A day after Congress projected its J-K unit president Ghulam Nabi Azad as the party8217;s chief ministerial candidate, Azad has reportedly backed out citing security reasons.

Earlier, party spokesman Syed Sibte Razi said: 8216;8216;We will be victorious. If there is a hung Assembly, PCC president Azad could be the chief minister.8217;8217;

According to Razi, the Congress8217; 8216;8216;past experiences show those heading elections would be elected the CM8217;8217;. He cited the examples of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Punjab.

Azad is known to be uninterested in staying on in J-K even if his party forms the government. Sources said he had cited security as a reason to get out of the state. He has repeatedly clarified 8216;8216;he is a kingmaker8217;8217; and not interested in becoming CM.

In Jammu, Azad simply said his party will talk with separatists if voted to power. He alleged that Pakistan and the National Conference NC were responsible for militancy and accused CM Farooq Abdullah of being power hungry and 8216;8216;uninterested8217;8217; in ending militancy.

Some senior Congress want Azad to stay put in J-K. They find him the 8216;8216;biggest thorn8217;8217; in their way to currying favour with party chief Sonia Gandhi. A few months ago, this camp reportedly 8216;8216;played a role8217;8217; in forcing Sonia to send Azad to Kashmir as PCC chief.

Later, Ambika Soni, political secretary to Sonia, came out in the open and announced at a Surankote poll meet that Azad would be its CM candidate. Soni is reportedly close to the group opposed to Azad.

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For some weeks past, the Congress has been harping that its CM will be from the Jammu region. Other than Azad who is from Doda in Jammu region, the only two leaders from the area who could have been considered were Mangat Ram Sharma and former PCC chief Ayub Khan. Among the three, Azad was always nearest the chair.

Sources said Sonia is 8216;8216;happy8217;8217; over reports about the state Congress8217; work and its secret talks with various small parties such as Mufti Mohammad Sayeed8217;s PDP.

If the Assembly is hung, the party hopes to prevent the NC from forming the government. Most party leaders have told Sonia that past 8216;8216;friendship8217;8217; with the NC seriously harmed the Congress, particularly in the Valley. Other than small parties, the Congress is also 8216;8216;in touch8217;8217; with Independent candidates who are likelsy to win.