Cong expels dist president, others for defying alliance

Disciplinary action follows failure to respond to show-cause notices for running as independents

SRINAGAR: In a decisive move to enforce party discipline, the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has expelled several senior leaders, including District Congress Committee (DCC) President Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan, for defying the party's alliance strategy and running as independent candidates in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections.
The JKPCC Spokesperson announced that Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat from Khonmoh, and PCC Secretary Asif Ahmad Beigh have been stripped of their basic party membership. The action comes after they failed to respond to a show-cause notice issued by the party, demanding an explanation for their actions, which are viewed as a direct violation of the alliance spirit with the National Conference.
“These leaders have contested in the elections independently, disregarding the pre-poll alliance between Congress and the National Conference, which aimed to present a united front. Such breaches will not be tolerated,” said the party Spokesperson in a statement issued to the press.
The JKPCC's move to expel the dissenting leaders follows reports that multiple party members have filed nominations to contest as independents, challenging the party's official candidates in various constituencies. This defiance of the alliance agreement has alarmed the party leadership, prompting them to take swift action to maintain unity.
Earlier, the JKPCC had issued show-cause notices to several leaders, including Imtiyaz Ahmad Khan, Waseem Shalla, Asif Beigh, Manzoor Ahmad, and Irfan Shah, demanding explanations for their decision to run independently. They were given three days to respond, but some failed to provide satisfactory explanations led to immediate disciplinary action.
The expulsions reflect the party's growing concern over internal strife and its determination to present a unified front in the crucial assembly elections. In particular, Srinagar has emerged as a hotspot, with multiple leaders breaking ranks, including five who had filed nominations from the district as independents.
This internal discord has posed significant challenges for the Congress-NC alliance, particularly in key districts like Srinagar and Anantnag, where local leaders running as independents could dilute the alliance's electoral prospects. The party’s leadership has clarified that further breaches of alliance unity will be met with strict disciplinary measures.