KOTLI/SEHNSA, AJK (Kashmir English): Raja Iftikhar Ahmed, the Muslim Conference ticket holder in the last general elections from LA-11 Kotli-IV (Sehnsa), has formally announced his departure from the party in a major political setback for the Muslim Conference.
In the last general elections, Raja Iftikhar Ahmed left PML-N and joined Muslim Conference and contested the election but just to be defeated by the PTI candidate.
Chaudhry Muhammad Ikhlaq was elected Member of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly from constituency LA-11 Kotli-IV (Sehnsa Tehsil). He won the seat in the 2021 AJK general election as a candidate for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
After the recent demise of Raja Naseer, a key leader of Muslim League-N and former government minister from the same constituency; LA-11, Muslim League-N is facing a severe lack of a strong candidate in Sehnsa constituency.
Sources claimed that the leadership of Muslim League-N has asked Raja Iftikhar Ahmed to part ways with the Muslim Conference and join their party. After which he will be launched as a party candidate in the next general elections.
Sources said that although more than two dozen candidates from Muslim League-N have submitted applications for election tickets from Sehnsa constituency but none of them have the strong vote bank that Raja Iftikhar Ahmed has.
It is to be remembered that in the last general elections, Raja Iftikhar Ahmed secured more than 7,000 votes while contesting the election on a Muslim Conference ticket, which is a clear proof of his public acceptance.
Setback for MC Kotli
Raja Iftikhar Ahmed’s separation from the Muslim Conference is also being considered as a big loss for the party and also a new turn in the electoral politics of Sehnsa constituency.
