‘Will always abide by my party directive’
Srinagar: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Rajpura Syed Bashir on Tuesday said the nomination of Dr Haseeb Drabu as party’s candidate from his constituency for upcoming assembly elections has created a devil and the deep sea situation for him.
“I don’t know what to do. On the one side I cannot overrule party decision as I hold Mufti Saheb and Mehbooba Ji in high esteem and on the other I don’t feel myself in a position to control my committed workers who have shown serious reservations over party’s decision,” Bashir told KNS.
In a candid confession, Bashir said that he was not taken on board by his party leadership while evolving consensus on Dr Drabu’s candidature. “I respect and hold Dr Drabu in high esteem as he is an experienced person and a visionary as well but on the other I am not able to face my voters in the constituency who till the last moment were preparing and strategizing poll preparations for my smooth win,” he added.
The PDP senior leader and former minister of state for PHE said that nomination of Dr Drabu’s as the party candidate from Rajpora was an ‘abrupt decision’ which has created ‘havoc’ in his constituency. “There is no doubt that I respect Mufti Saheb and Mehbooba Ji and am ready to sacrifice anything for them and the party but at the same time I owe my people a lot. How can I ignore their feelings and aspirations?” Bashir stressed.
Bashir said that Mehbooba conveyed him the decision of nominating Dr Drabu from Rajpora and he told her that the party is free to take any decision and he will abide by all party directives. “I will abide by the party decision but also how can I ignore my people who have sacrificed everything for me in last 30 years of my political career.”
When asked whether he was contacted by any other political party especially PDP’s arch rival National Conference, Bashir said that no political party has approached him sofar. “The NC cannot afford to contact me and they know it. But somebody has posted me a text saying that with Drabu’s nomination Rajpora seat is now in NC’s kitty. I replied to him that till I am alive nothing will happen to PDP in my constituency. And God wiling I will make them (NC) to eat dust,” Bashir said.
He revealed that Drabu’s candidature has been decided in last minute changes to the list which had earlier included his name as the party candidate from Rajpora constituency. Asked was he contacted by his party or will he approach them in near future, Bashir said that he will not approach party leadership unless they call him. “How can I approach them when I have not been called by them?” Bashir said while expressing his concern over the fate of his workers. “I am in a complete dilemma so are my workers who are restless since the party announced its list nominating Dr Drabu as the party candidate from Rajpora.