Choudhary Lal Singh: Will Firebrand's Return To Congress Aid Their Victory In Udhampur? (image:facebook.com/thechlalsingh)

Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur constituency will witness intense fight in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Both Congress and BJP has presented their prominent leaders in the poll battle. As BJP’s Jitender Singh incumbent MP and, minister in the PMO is seeking his third time, Congress hopes that with Choudhary Lal Singh they would be able to wrest the constituency.

Choudhary Lal Singh, has represented Udhampur Constituency in 2004, and 2009 as a Congress candidate. After 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he quit Congress and joined BJP. He then served as a minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government. Later, Choudhary Singh was removed from the cabinet for participating in a rally supporting the Kathua rape and murder accused, The Week reports. He defended the participation and controversy resulted in his resignation as well.

He left the BJP in 2018 and formed Dogra Swabhimaan Sangathan (DSS) Party to secure Jammu”s indigenous identity and to advance the rights of Dogras. In last month, he rejoined Congress.

Though there is difference opinion in Congress concerning Singh”s return, but the grand old party believe that with firebrand”s joining the party, the electoral dynamics in the constituency will change and work in their benefit. Congress leadership hopes that Singh”s aggressive stance on the abrogation of Article 370 could even bring some Hindu voters who had left the party for the RSS and BJP, The Indian Express reports. In his speeches, A

As per the reports, total 12 candidates are vying for Udhampur constituency seat. Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) is fielding G M Saroori. Saroori is likely to divide the Muslim votes, working against Congress and may favour the BJP,  reports add.