Srinagar: Senior Congress leader and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has been hogging headlines for different reasons during the past few days.
When he was about to complete his tenure in Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised him. He (PM Modi) described Azad as an exemplary politician. Recently, Azad reciprocated PM Modi’s gesture by praising him for not forgetting his routes.
Azad, who is in Jammu presently, recently met his loyalists in the summer capital. After that meeting, supporters of the veteran leader claimed that Azad has the capability to become the next chief of All India Congress Committee.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “PM Modi and Azad praising each other seem to have not gone well with the Congress leadership. The party could have easily nominated Azad to Rajya Sabha again from Gujarat but it didn’t. It seems the Congress leadership has made it clear to Azad that he has been sidelined and for time being he may have to sit at the fence,”
The analyst said, “The Congress high command seems to have forgotten that Azad is not among those leaders who will sit at the fence and act as a spectator. He cannot remain silent for a longtime.”
It’s in place to mention here that the group of 23 leaders that had written to the AICC chief last year to seek change in party’s leadership stands pushed to the wall from that very day. Most of the leaders of the group, including Azad were stripped of their party posts, and every attempt was made to turn them insignificant.
An observer said, “After Azad completed his term in the Rajya Sabha group of 23 leaders seems to have become active. It appears that the group wants to make its presence felt and is getting ready to take on Gandhis head on.”
He said, “Rahul Gandhi not emerging as a strong leader is helping the veterans to up the ante. This group has remained silent for a longtime but now it wants to break the shackles. The leaders in this group have remained loyal to Congress Party all throughout their lives. But they have been pushed to the wall at the fag ends of their political careers. Many people believe this is being done to ensure that Rahul Gandhi doesn’t face any competition and he remains the undisputed king of the party.”
Azad makes his presence felt, out to challenge Rahul Gandhi
