Eight senior party leaders, including three former ministers, resigned from the party’s primary membership hours after the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad, did so. Sources indicate they may soon announce a new party.
According to the sources, more leaders who are said to be close to Azad are thinking about quitting.
Reports say that former MLAs Mohammad Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani, and Choudhary Mohammad Akram, as well as former ministers R. S. Chib, G. M. Saroori, and Abdul Rashid, former MLC Naresh Gupta, and party head Salman Nizami, have all resigned in favour of Azad.
“Over the years as a member of the Congress Party, it has been my sincere endeavour to work for the betterment of my State – Jammu & Kashmir. I feel that in the prevailing circumstances, the Congress Party has lost its momentum in contributing towards the future of my State.
A strong leader like Azad is needed by the people to lead them toward a better future, especially in light of the turmoil that the State of J&K has experienced over the past few decades. In his letter of resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Chib expressed his belief that the Congress Party had failed to fulfil the expectations placed on it.
According to the sources, Saroori, a former vice president of the Congress’ J&K unit, and a number of other leaders met Azad in Delhi before resigning from the party.
“Azad has been a well-liked leader in Congress for the past 50 years. For his contributions to nation-building, he is well-known throughout the nation, Saroori told reporters after meeting Azad at his Delhi home.
Rashid, Bhat, Wani, and Akram announced their resignation from the party in a joint resignation letter that Saroori earlier posted to his social media accounts.
“He cannot stay out of politics… His services are required in J&K, and we are confident that he will become the state’s next chief minister (UT). People in J&K respect their leaders and are willing to make any sacrifice for them, Saroori remarked, giving enough away to suggest that Azad is probably going to start his own party.
The majority of the perceived Azad-loyal Congress leaders have already arrived in New Delhi and are camped there.
The veteran Congress leader is likely planning to launch a new party next month as the union territory gears up for the first Assembly elections since Article 370 was repealed in 2019. According to the reports, Muneer Ahmad Mir from Kupwara, Tara Chand, a former deputy chief minister, Jugal Kishore Sharma, a former member of parliament, and all three are considering leaving the Congress. According to the sources, Azad considers the leaders to be close confidants as well.
“In light of the recent developments, we, the top party leaders, are convening. Chand stated that Azad sahib would also be met.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
