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Journalism of Courage
After considerable dilly-dallying, senior Congress leader Mangat Ram Sharma8217;s name has been finalised by the party8217;s Central Election Committee CEC for the Jammu-West assembly constituency.
Earlier, there were reports about Pradesh Congress Committee chief Ghulam Nabi Azad contesting from the constituency. On Saturday Azad8217;s name was added to the party8217;s list of prospective candidates. However, Azad declined the offer and Mangat Ram was the final choice of the party.
The CEC has also finalised the names of six candidates for various assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kathua districts. However, the party is yet to officialy announce its list of candidates.
Sources said, while the name of State Youth Congress president Yogesh Sawhney has been approved for Jammu-East, no decision has been taken on the Jammu Cantonment seat.
Raman Bhalla had been initially chosen to contest the seat, but Ravinder Singh Micky8217;s name was also included in the party8217;s panel later. Sources said, Bhalla is likely to get the seat.
Gharu Ram is likely to be the party candidate from Suchetgarh, Prem Sagar from Bani, Yashpal Khajuria from Udhampur, Swaran Lata from Samba and Suman Bhagat from R.S. Pura.
Sources confirmed that these names have been cleared by both the CEC and the screening committee.
Meanwhile, sources told The Indian Express that a sizeable section of Kashmiri Pandits KPsis likely to support Congress in the coming assembly elections.
Senior KP leader Dr Agnishekhar had met the party president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi on Saturday and assured her support of KPs support to the Congress.
