Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 9: Congress Party seems to have gone into complete oblivion as its leaders have disappeared from the scene after losing power in the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress Party shared power in J&K for 12 consecutive years i.e. from 2002 to 2014. First it shared power with Peoples Democratic Party and then with the National Conference. “Despite ruling J&K amidst turmoil today we hardly find any leaders except a few,” an analyst told Precious Kashmir.
He said, “Congress was more vibrant in Jammu than in Kashmir but it seems that during the past six years it has lost its footing completely.”
The analyst said that many Congress leaders in Jammu have changed their sides and the ones who are still loyal to the grand old party have gone into hibernation. “The JKPCC Chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir seems to be the only voice from the Congress Party in J&K, others, including the big guns, seem to have lost interest in the politics,” he added.
According to Kashmir watchers it’s not only the Congress, which has gone on back foot in Jammu and Kashmir, regional parties, including National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party are also sailing in the same boat. “There is every possibility about political process getting revived in Jammu and Kashmir in coming days. It seems that the new faces which have appeared on the political scene will emerge as the main players while the traditional politicians could end up acting as fence sitters,” said an observer.
He said, “The Congress Party will have to work very hard to make a comeback in Jammu region. Many smaller parties have emerged there and are trying their best to project themselves as an alternative for the grand old party of India.”
He said, “Congress is not only struggling in J&K it’s facing uncertainty across the country. The biggest problem which the party is facing is leadership crisis. It needs a leader who can pull the party out from the quagmire of uncertainty.”
“Apparently it seems that Congress top brass is facing so many problems that J&K has slipped out from its mind. Former J&K Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last month. But Azad skipped abrogation of Article 370 and stuck to restoration of J&K’s statehood. On the other hand Congress leaders in Kashmir on August 5 issued statements seeking restoration of Article 370. It appears that Congress is confused,” the observer said.
