Jammu, Nov 19: As the PCC president G A Mir agreed to the view point of Azad loyalists, a united show of strength was organized by the State unit of Congress on the birth anniversary programme of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Thursday. On the name of `protocol', leader of Congress Legislature Party in Upper House, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Leader of CLP in Lower House, Nawang Rigzin Jora were invited for the public address in the last, only before the PCC chief, during the birth anniversary function, held here today. Non-adherence of the `protocol' earlier was a major reason, being cited by Azad loyalists, particularly Jugal Kishore Sharma for not attending PCC sponsored functions in the State. While the adopting of `protocol' has satisfied the ego of Azad camp thus paving way for unity in the faction ridden State Congress, the new development, on the other hand, is all set to further widen the rift between PCC president G A Mir and senior vice-president Sham Lal Sharma, who holds number two position in the Pradesh Congress Committee.
This is no more a secret in the party that G A Mir and other senior Congress leaders in Jammu province are jealous of Sham Lal Sharma because of his emergence as a powerful leader within a decade of his political career. After his successful inurning as Cabinet minister in then Omar Abdullah-led NC- Congress coalition Government and then his nomination as senior vice-president in PCC, Sham Lal Sharma is presently most powerful leader in Pradesh Congress after G A Mir. According to the sources in Congress circles, major reason behind joining of hands by G A Mir with Ghulam Nabi Azad is Sham Lal as both of them don't want a leader from Jammu belt to become more powerful and assertive. |
