Azad played a master stroke by inducting his former chief secretary, BR Kundal, who was the first dalit chief secretary of the state, into his cabinet.
Kundal's induction, Azad hopes, will send a strong signal to the community, which accounts for 30 per cent votes in Jammu's 37 Assembly constituencies. Dalits are said to be a decisive factor in at least 15 of the state's 87 seats. Sources close to Azad said Kundal would be Congress candidate from Ranbirsingh Pura.
Azad's move comes in response to other parties' attempts to take advantage of the split in Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the state. Mayawati split with Dr Sat Pal, a former surgeon in the government who is credited with building the party in the state, after a dispute over party funds.
Pal has since formed his own party, the National Bahujan Samaj (NBS), which is being wooed by others, especially the BJP, the National Conference and Panthers Party. The NBS, observers say, can play spoilsport for others in case of multi-corner contests.
According to KK Malhotra of the NBS, the party would contest at least 47 seats in the state and go in for strategic alliances. The election is expected to see a dramatically higher voter participation as compared with the earlier dismal shows due to militant-dictated boycotts.
