Ghulam Nabi Azad, the former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has shocked several central party leaders with his refusal to take on new duties. They claim he was extensively consulted before reorganising the party panels in J&K, and Congress president Sonia Gandhi took into consideration his suggestions.
In the hours following the Tuesday announcement of seven party panels and the appointment of a new president and working president in the J&K unit, Azad sent his letter of resignation from two significant panels. The G23 leaders, of which Azad was a member, wrote to Gandhi in 2020 requesting a significant organisational overhaul. Azad stated: “I have resigned as the campaign committee chairman in J&K and also as a member of the political affairs committee there.”
According to a party official, Azad told his assistants that the leadership had rejected his suggestions for the creation of party panels in J&K. The functionary continued, “The 73-year-old also claimed health grounds to decline the role.”
According to a source close to Azad, someone with his experience should be given significant roles in the party’s central leadership and reinstated in the Rajya Sabha rather than be selected to chair state-level bodies. As the leader of the opposition, Azad left the Upper House of Parliament in February 2021.
Senior Congress leaders argued that Azad was briefed four times by the party leadership regarding the six panels and the reorganisation of the J&K unit. A top leader stated, “The most recent consultation took place on July 14,” and added that Azad had served as chairman of the campaign committee when Saifuddin Soz was the J&K Congress chief. With consideration of his prior expertise as the campaign chief, the position was offered to him.
Another leader claimed that Azad had provided a list of people that could be included in this panel. “The list was actively considered by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and some of his nominees have found a place in the panels,” he added.
Another senior leader contended that Azad has already turned down responsibilities in J&K. The senior leader stated, “Rahul Gandhi had earlier this year offered him to become the J&K Congress chairman but he declined the offer.”
The deadline for the final publication of the J&K voters list was recently extended to November 25 by the Election Commission.
“Azad rejected the offer because it is basically too little, too late from him. He might have expected a Rajya Sabha renomination… Moreover, the Congress is not in a strong position in J&K and his presence would not have drastically improved the party’s prospects,” political commentator Kay Benedict said.