KL Report

SRINAGAR

Day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah hinted that there was a possibility of formation of third front at the centre, Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad today ruled out the formation of the third front saying such moves have failed in the past. He also played safe over the pre-poll Alliance in J&K stating that there is enough time left for elections in J&K and that the congress party will contest polls with full strength.

GULAM NABI AZAD
GULAM NABI AZAD

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function at Directorate of Health Services here, he said, “No decision regarding forming a pre-poll alliance has been taken yet. Right now a coalition government is in power. Different members within congress and National Conference may have different opinions about the possibility of pre-poll alliance but the final decision will be taken at the right time,” he said.

According to a local news agency, KNS Azad welcomed the decision of Janata Dal United (JDU) to snap its 17-year-old ties with BJP-led NDA over the elevation of Modi as the saffron party’s poll campaign chief.

“What Nitish Kumar should have done 15 years back he did it now, but after 15 years he felt that with BJP he cannot move forward. I know him very well. He is a very secular person and we welcome his decision.”

Asked whether the Congress will approach the party to bring it into the UPA fold, the senior Congress leader said the question does not arise at this moment.

On possibility of formation of a third front Azad said, “We have seen third front in the past. Such efforts have failed to survive and Congress is the only secular party which will survive,” claimed Azad.

He said Narendra Modi’s elevation has strengthened Congress party and has divided Bhartiya Janta party.

On the reshuffle in the Union Cabinet, Azad said he had proposed at the Jaipur session of the AICC that ministers should not hold posts like General Secretary and Pradesh Congress Committee Chiefs a year ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

“While the ministers have a job to do in continuing the good work on development front, the party office bearers also have to work on strengthening the party,” he said while referring to resignation of CP Joshi and Ajay Maken from the Union cabinet.

“Congress does not take decisions watching others. We follow our own policies and the latest reshuffle is the outcome of that strategy,” he said.

Talking to KNS Azad while responding to a question about Prime Minister’s visit and said, “Prime minster and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandi are scheduled to visit valley on June 25 and they are programmed to visit Uri, Kishtwar and will inaugurate Railway link between Qazigund and Banihal.”

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