Early Times Report Jammu, Sept 20: Dropping enough signals of his preference, senior Congressman and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad has suddenly intensified his interference in the party affairs in Jammu and Kashmir, his home State. Even as he is Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha with a status of Cabinet Minister, the former Chief Minister is eagerly awaiting for his return to the State politics and looking for an appropriate time to announce the same This was indirectly conveyed by none but Azad himself during his interaction meetings with the senior party leaders from Jammu and Kashmir and his loyalists, who called on him recently in connection with Eid and extend their warm greetings on the auspicious occasion. According to the sources in Congress circles, Azad is not sure of the party's prospects at Centre as well as in big Statues in near future even as he has been appointed as general secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh, which is going to polls next year. In the absence of power at Centre and more particularly in the wake of emergence of young leaders, who are apparently more confidential of Rahul Gandhi, further continuing with the high command at Centre in long run is not feasible, sources explained and added that despite a little bit disappointment among people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is still far ahead from Rahul Gandhi in attracting voters and hence return of Congress to power at Centre seems a distant dream even in next Parliament elections. However, on the other hand, uncertainty looms large over the fate of PDP-BJP coalition Government in wake of prevailing Kashmir unrest while the ruling saffron party is fast eroding its base among Jammu people, who are most likely to opt for Congress in the next Assembly elections. Since Azad is the tallest leader in Congress with acceptability in Jammu as well as in Kashmir, he will be the obvious choice in case party returns to power, source explained. As part of this future planning, Azad has increased his interference in the party affairs in Jammu Kashmir where a major reshuffle at the organization level is not ruled out in near future, sources said. |