Azad’s loyalists turn silent in J&K, former CM indecisive
Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 4: Eerie silence has gripped Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee after the non-inclusion of senior party leader and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from the list of national office bearers of the party.
According to the media reports speculations are rife that Azad may quit the Congress Party. While speaking against Farmers’ Bill moved in the Upper House of the Parliament, Azad had stunned everyone by stating that “this may be his last speech in the Rajya Sabha.”
It may be recalled that Azad was dropped from the list of the national office bearers of the party last month after he signed a letter which was endorsed by twenty others seeking change in Congress leadership. The letter sent by the senior Congress leaders had stirred the hornet’s nest following which Azad had offered to tender his resignation during the Congress Working Committee meet held in New Delhi.
Media reports claim that after taking the Congress top brass head on Azad is unlikely to get a seat in the Upper House. After Azad’s statement, rumours started making rounds that senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge can be made the leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha instead of Azad.
According to the sources since the day Azad has been dropped his loyalists in Jammu and Kashmir have turned silent. “Many of them have suggested Azad to return to J&K politics and float his own party but till date the former J&K chief minister has not opened his cards.”
Sources said, “His loyalists are of the opinion that Azad shouldn’t waste his time in national politics as the grand old party of India is at crossroads and its revival in coming years looks difficult.”
They said, “Had J&K not been turned into a union territory Azad would have said goodbye to the Congress Party soon after he was dropped. After August 5, 2019, the political parties in J&K are struggling to make their presence felt. Leaders of the regional parties are making attempts to reappear on the scene but things are not working out.”
Sources said, “Azad is aware about all these developments and knows that road ahead for politicians in Jammu and Kashmir is not going to be that easy. Floating a new political party till the J&K’s statehood is restored is not a good idea. But if Congress decides not to give another term to Azad in Rajya Sabha then he will be left with no other option other than taking a call about his future.”
