Factionalism-ridden Congress to strategize on J&K Assembly polls in New Delhi today

Over 25 senior leaders to attend crucial meeting; some leaders seek JKPCC chief’s removal

Jammu: Amid growing factionalism within its unit here, the Congress high command has summoned over two dozen senior leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for a crucial meeting at New Delhi tomorrow to address infighting within the party ranks and strategize for the upcoming Assembly polls, including deliberations on potential alliances necessary to form the next government in the Union Territory.
Sources said the party's high command has taken strong note of the growing factionalism within the Congress unit of Jammu and Kashmir after the party lost both the contested seats of the Jammu region to the BJP for a third consecutive time.
Although senior Congress leaders in J&K have downplayed the meeting as a “routine affair” focused on upcoming Lok Sabha polls, insiders assert that the meeting holds great significance due to recent letters from party members demanding the removal of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Vikar Rasool Wani.
“The meeting will be chaired by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief, Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of top Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal. Over two dozen senior leaders from Jammu and Kashmir have been called for the crucial meeting,” sources said.
Talking to The News Now, JKPCC chief, Vikar Rasool Wani, however, claimed the meeting has been called to discuss the future plans of the Congress party for upcoming Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir. “Four states are going to have Assembly polls soon. The leaders of all the states have been called for a meeting to strategize about Assembly polls. Similarly, J&K leaders, over 25 in numbers, have been asked to attend the meeting”.
He added, “Another major agenda of the meeting is to discuss any possible alliance, if required, to form a government in Jammu and Kashmir. The central government’s cooperation in forming a winning strategy would also be a key topic of discussion”.
Wani further added, “The party leadership will also hold deliberations on the weakness during the Lok Sabha polls, besides identifying the remedial measures to further strengthen the party at grassroots level. Our vote share has increased while the BJP’s vote share has witnessed a significant decline. There are certain grievances of the party leaders from Kashmir which will be addressed shortly”.
Pertinently, some Congress leaders have been demanding removal of Vikar Rasool Wani from the post of the J&K PCC chief. These leaders have written to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing Wani of “ruining the party” in the Union Territory.
“These leaders have been demanding that Vikar Rasool Wani should be removed from the post as he has “marginalized senior leaders, fostered factionalism, and created an unprecedented situation” detrimental to the party’s operations”, sources said.

Updated On 6/27/2024 12:10:28 AM