The rejig in Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has triggered a storm as senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has declined the new role as chairman of the Congress campaign committee, party sources said.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) on Tuesday appointed former minister Vikar Rasool Wani as new president of JKPCC. The AICC also named Azad as chairman of the campaign committee and another senior leader Tariq Karra as chairman of the party’s Political Affairs Committee.
The AICC accepted the resignation of former president Ghulam Ahmed Mir who tendered his resignation on July 6, 2022. Mir served as JKPCC chief for eight years.
Vikar has been appointed as new JKPCC chief while Raman Bhalla has been appointed as party’s working president, a party statement said.
Vikar was considered Azad’s loyalist and the move was seen by many as pacifying the senior Congress leader who has been part of dissident G-23 group of the party. However, it did not turn out that way with Azad refusing to take over the new role. It is learnt that Azad has conveyed his decision to the party high command.
The announcement of appointing president has also triggered anger in a section of Congress leaders in J&K. Former lawmaker Abdur Rashid Dar resigned from basic membership of the party in protest against the appointment of a new president.
Former Congress president, Mir welcomed the decision taken by the party high command regarding JK Congress.
