Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Mohammad Sharief Niaz- rated high in the realm of Politics was the only torch bearer to
provide solace to the people during the turmoil. Niaz, born in improvised family on 24th of
April 1944 in village changa Bhalessa, He is a law graduate, being a legal luminary, he was
entrusted the responsibility as Law Minister of the state in 1989. He patronized the improvised
people above the castes and religions.
Packed with outstanding achievements in democratic arena. Niaz, joined student Union, trade
unions and teachers unions. He joined congress party in 1976, worked as a trade union leader
and pleaded the cause of working class, nominated district president of congress committee
Doda in 1979, unsuccessfully contested 1983 assembly elections on congress ticket from
Inderwal constituency but elected in 1987, inducted into the council lof ministers of minister of
state Law in1989, From 1992 to 1996 he remained a member of USERS consultative
committee in Northern Railway of India, elected to assembly in 2002 . He polled 16,962 votes
and defeated his nearest NC rival Mohammed Aslam by a margin of 6,827 votes He was
inducted as Minister for power in Mufti-led Congress-PDP coalition.
Paving the way to the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to contest the Assembly
elections, He resigned from the Bhaderwah constituency from where he was elected in 2002.
Mr. Niaz's resignation was accepted with effect from March 1,
It was mandatory for Mr. Azad to be a member of any of the two Houses by the end of April
since he took over as Chief Minister on November 2, 2005. Due to the resignation of Niaz, by-
election was held in Bhaderwah constituency on April 24, 2006. He won this seat with an
overwhelming margin of 58,000.
In 2007, Niaz was elected as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) for Doda replacing
Mohammad Iqbal Bhat.
This is interesting to note that in the aftermath of Jammu agitation while the assembly
constituency like Bhaderwah witnessed sharp polarization, here the impact was not so deep for
Niaz being the lonely competent condidate for congress high command.
Lo and behold, Niaz reportedly broke down at the declaration of the result,when he was
contesting from Bhaderwah in 2009 By elections as he himself was not expecting to win. Niaz,
defeated Mr. Dalip Singh of BJP by a margin of 2,747. While Mr. Niaz polled 21,966 votes,
Mr. Singh polled 19,219 votes, out of total 53,219 votes polled.
Niaz was not only pitched against strong candidates of other parties but also his
own party leaders, workers and a number of close relatives worked against him.
The youth and disadvantaged played a pro-active role to ensure his victory. Niaz
saw a bitter contest with the BJP roping in Ghulam Ali, brother of Ghulam Nabi
Azad, to campaign for the BJP candidate. Ghulam Ali raised a storm by
supporting the Babri Masjid demolition in his speeches.
Local people opines that he won the election keeping in view the contribution of
Niaz during tamultous days of termoil.
To focus on his contribution to the state in general and Bhaderwah Bhalessa area
in particular before 42 years. We can speak it as Political representation of
Bhalessa in assembly since time immemorial. Things seemed changes due to the
visionary programmes of Niaz.
Regarding the Kashmir conflict, he is on the screen as a think tank for Indo-Pak
process viz-a-viz good goverenance in the state. He always raised the issues in his
that a large number of people living under the constant fear of gun along the
border on both sides, are today are most relieved with this decision. He advocated
that Pakistan should take desired measures to control the militant organisations
operating from its soil and indulging in bloodshed in Jammu and Kashmir.
During his tenure as a cabnit Minister, he ordered a probe into the reasons for the
collapse of the diversion Tunnel Number 2 at the 450-MW Baglihar hydroelectric
project in Kashmir.