Bhaskar Ground Report: J&K; Ghulam Nabi Azad in pursuit of becoming kingmaker, may form a new party

Congress workers have been instructed to distance themselves from Azad’s rally.

The political stage has been decorated in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Dozens of meetings of political parties are being held every day, in the midst of all this, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is sidelined from the party, is holding record breaking rallies. After becoming a part of the G-23 faction which raised voice against the central leadership in the party, all the responsibility has been taken from him one by one.

On the other hand, factionalism-stricken Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee has instructed workers to stay away from Azad’s meetings. Azad dealt a blow to the party when 20 of his loyalists resigned from the party office. With these maneuvers, Azad was trying to strengthen his foothold in the Jammu and Kashmir Congress Committee. But instead of bowing down, the high command accepted the resignation.

By making Raman Bhalla, the opponent of Azad faction, the working president of the Pradesh Congress Committee, gave a message that indiscipline would not be tolerated in the party. Since then there is talk that like former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Azad may form a new party. However, Azad is calling himself a 24-carat Congressman. Political experts say that Azad Raj is an expert in hiding in the heart and is taking rallies and reconnaissance of his power.

A large number of Azad’s loyalists in the Jammu region are from Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Reasi and Udhampur districts. There are 12 assembly seats in these 5 districts. By focusing on these districts, Azad is trying to become a ‘kingmaker’. His supporters may contest against Congress candidates. Votes can also be cut in many areas. The Congress had won 12 seats in the 2014 assembly elections.

In these five districts, the Congress got 4 seats, the remaining 8 were in the account of the BJP. Analysts say that Azad’s influence is also in these five districts apart from Poonch (3 seats) and Rajouri (4 seats). The Muslim population in these areas is up to 50%. In the last election, PDP got 3 seats and National Conference 1 seat in this region.

If Azad fights separately, then the Muslim vote can be divided into four parts including PDP, NC, Congress. BJP can get benefit of this. Sensing this, Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah have increased activism in Jammu.

Leaders close to Omar Abdullah join BJP in Jammu
In Jammu division, Omar Abdullah has suffered a setback after leaders close to him quit the party. With this the NC has lost ‘contact’ with the people of Jammu. Two months back, number-2 Devendra Singh Rana in NC had joined BJP. He is the brother of BJP leader Jitendra Singh Rana. After this many other leaders have also left the party. Among them are veterans like former ministers Surjit Singh Salathia and Kamal Arora. Arora had won from Bishnah seat in 2014 despite the BJP wave.