Azad likely to return to J&K to lead party in the assembly polls

Srinagar, July 16 (RNA): Even as the Congress party was battling to hold its feet in the Jammu and Kashmir where it went blank in the recently held Lok Sabha Polls, serious efforts were afoot to keep the flock together amid reports of a mass rebellion within its J&K camp. The process however, is facing many impediments due to absence of a central leadership following Rahul Gandhi’s resignation as Party President earlier this month. Sources in the congress told RNA that with uncertainty on assembly elections still looming large, the party was in yet another crises as many of the leaders were intending to desert the camp to secure their political future and may join other parties. However, foreseeing the trouble, the Congress according to sources has decided to send its one of the troubleshooters and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad back to state in a desperate attempt to keep the flock together.

Insiders in the party told RNA that recent visit of Azad was an indication of his return to state to lead the party in the assembly elections which according to them- would reinforce confidence among the leaders as well the party cadres. A senior leader of the JK Congress told RNA that Azad would be traveling to Srinagar again in coming days in follow up of his Sunday review meeting during which he would be meeting party leaders of Rajouri, ponch and other areas.

Another party leader however, said that if Azad decides to return to state, it won’t be an easy walk for him either, as the division in the camp was beyond any recovery. He said a senior leader of the Party had skipped the Sunday meeting , indicating that everything was not fine in the camp. Sources in the JKPCC told RNA that senior leader’s absence in the meeting has come as a shock to many including Azad himself who has been striving hard to re-group the divided camp in the state.

Last month the former Chief Minster had to intervene directly to help a leader in north Kashmir change his mind when he had almost walked over to other camp following his resignation as District president of the party. If sources are to be believed, the Congress Party may project Azad as a Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming assembly polls which if true, would be a last desperate attempt to keep the party relevant in the state where the space seems shrinking for the national party.(RNA)