NEW DELHI, MAY 13: Congress leaders from Jammu and Kashmir are trying to rally support from the Central leadership for a sustained anti-National Conference strategy in the ensuing elections.Senior leaders like Mufti Mohommad Sayeed and Pradesh Congress Committee president Choudhary Mohommad Aslam have been camping in the Capital and asking the Central leaders to take them seriously. Both feel ``the party needs to stand united to avail of the popular anti-NC mood in the border state''.The pre-emptive strike of the Mufti, a veteran who pulled off a coup of sorts by wresting the Anantnag seat from the NC in last Lok Sabha elections, is aimed at some policy-makers within the Congress Working Committee, who have soft-feelings towards Farooq Abdullah. Mufti and his ilk are haunted by the memories of last elections - when the Sitaram Kesri led Congress had announced withdrawal of its candidate from the Srinagar constituency in the last minute to enable Farooq Abdullah's son win the seat.``I explained to Soniaji clearly why we should keep our party united and not allow the things of the past happen this time'', Aslam said, who claimed he found the party president responsive. Although initial reports suggested that Mufti would meet Sonia Gandhi, he, however, denied having sought an appointment with her. ``I am discussing the strategy with people in charge of Kashmir'', he said.Mufti was left out in the jumbo-sized Pradesh Congress Committee announced this year for the State. Sources said he was checkmated by his arch rival Ghulam Nabi Azad, who managed to paint Mufti in bad light for his ``pro-militant'' speeches in Kashmir.Azad, who in spite of never contesting from the State remained close to the central leadership, has openly sided with Abdullah during last elections. Mufti and company are here precisely to blunt his influence on the decision makers in the poll strategy. Mufti said he was not apologetic for having taken a stand for dialogue with insurgents. ``I have held the position of country's home minister and beyond that I don't have to prove my credentials as an Indian to anyone,'' he said, adding that there was no way he would give up his advocacy of dialogue and humane approach in dealing with militants for getting closer to the decision makers in the Congress.``I have come here to do some plain speaking - they (CWC) should no longer dismiss the J&K elections as a non-issue since it involves only six seats,'' Mufti told The Indian Express. He added, ``The Congress remains the sole pro-India party serving as a bridge between the people and the country'', expressing the wish that the central leaders to take their plans on J&K rather seriously.Mufti is in favour of a strategy that leads to the NC's defeat. The Congress should take the lead and rally all the splinter opposition groups under its partonage, he said, adding that he was also ready for adjustments with other parties. Sources said that Mufti was also advocating the idea of supporting the expelled NC leader Saifudin Soz.
