Azad’s absence may make things difficult for new J&K Cong incharge

Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 14: Senior leader of the Congress Party Rajni Patil, who was recently appointed as J&K incharge, while winding up her 4-day maiden visit to the union territory batted for restoration of J&K’s statehood and expressed dismay over revocation of Article 370.
It’s in place to mention here that Patil replaced Ambika Soni as J&K incharge. Soni and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad were dropped from the list of national office bearers of the Congress after they signed a letter seeking change in party’s leadership.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “It seems that the Congress Party is confused. When Azad met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi a few months ago he didn’t talk about the abrogation of Article 370. Top Congress leaders too have maintained silence over this issue. But the new J&K incharge of the Congress Party Rajni Patil termed the Centre’s move as unilateral.”
He said, “The Congress, which ruled the country for so many years, stands at crossroads today. The old horses, who remained loyal to Nehru-Gandhi family throughout their lives, stand sidelined and it seems that the ones who have donned their mantles will take time to understand the politics of the regions they have been assigned.”
An observer said, “When the revocation of Article 370 was discussed in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, in August last year the Congress leaders had opposed the move, but after that they went in a silent mode. Patil by talking about Article 370 while addressing a press conference in Srinagar has tried to send a message that her party doesn’t support the Centre’s August 5, 2019 decision, but the Congress leaders maintaining silence over this issue in other parts of the country has revealed it all.”
The observer said, “The Congress Party, which shared power with PDP and National Conference for 12 consecutive years in J&K, as on date stands decimated in Jammu, its erstwhile bastion. The influential leaders, including former ministers have deserted the Congress in Jammu. In Kashmir party has got just few faces, who too are struggling to make their presence felt on the ground.”
He said, “The grand old party will have to look for different ways and means for re-entering into Jammu and Kashmir’s political arena. If Ghulam Nabi Azad stays aloof it will make the revival of the Congress Party in J&K very difficult. Since the day he has been dropped from the list of national office bearers of the party his loyalists have turned silent. Azad getting sidelined could prove to be a big setback for the party. The new J&K incharge will have to work very hard to revive the Congress in J&K. Mere statements won’t work.”