National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah is touring the Pir Panjal valley, the second such visit since Omar Abdullah's back-to-back meetings of the region in May. In a meeting with party workers in Surankote, Dr. Abdullah instructed to "unify the cadre" and prepare for the yet-to-be-declared Assembly elections.
The sharp focus of the NC on the Pir Panjal is a reflection of how the J&K Delimitation Commission has recast the Pir Panjal valley, comprising Rajouri and Poonch district, electorally by reserving the highest five Assembly segments for the Schedule Tribes (ST). All the parties are wooing the electorate in the region, fast emerging as the key pocket to win inorder to rule the Union Territory (UT).
It is no coincidence that NC vice-president Omar drove over 200 km to tour the Pir Panjal valley in May, followed by his father Dr. Abdullah this month. The previous visit came just 10 days after the J&K Delimitation Commission put the final stamp on its report on May 5.