Loyalists pitch for Azad as J&K Cong Chief

By Our Special Correspondent

Ghulam Nabi Azad’s loyalists are campaigning for him to be declared the Chief Minister face of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the president of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee and they are undeterred by the controversy created by some within the party over the Padma Bhushan award given to him by the Central government.

Claiming that the party has a bleak chance in J&K polls without Azad at the helm, senior Congress leader and former MLC Ghulam Nabi Monga said he and several other leaders wanted Azad to be appointed as J&K Congress chief.

Earlier, Azad’s colleagues in Congress questioned his acceptance of the Padma award and rumors were flying thick and fast that he may leave the Congress. But he has indicated that he will not leave the Congress and will fight for the changes he has been demanding in the party along with his many other colleagues.

Congress leaders have written to the high command to relieve incumbent J&K Congress chief G A Mir of his duties and appoint Azad instead. However, there has been no response. Soon after Azad was not given a nod for the membership of the Rajya Sabha by the high command, he has made himself very active in Jammu and Kashmir and has mobilized his supporters not only in the Congress but also in other parties giving enough indications to the Gandhi’s that either they would have to declare him as Congress PCC chief or he would float his own regional outfit.

Congress leader Mohammad Amin Bhat said Congress is “zero” without Azad in J&K. “If the Congress fights elections in J&K without Azad, we will not win a single seat,” Bhat said in a video, which has gone viral.