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With infighting on, Cong high command gives space to anti-Karra faction

Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report

Jammu, Jan 11: Amid continuing factionalism within the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress, the party high command has adopted a balancing approach by giving visible space and importance to both rival groups in an apparent bid to prevent further escalation of internal discord.
While the party leadership has allowed the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hamid Karra to function without overt interference, it has simultaneously ensured that leaders belonging to the faction opposed to him are not sidelined and continue to play an active role in party programmes.
Sources said this dual-track approach was clearly reflected during the recent visit of AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, to the region. During his engagements in Jammu, Dr Hussain reportedly ensured that senior leaders who are known critics of Karra were present and visibly involved in party activities and public programmes.
Party insiders said that special emphasis was laid on the participation of former JKPCC president Vikar Rasool Wani, who is considered a key figure in the anti-Karra camp. Dr Hussain, sources added, made it a point that Wani should be included in all major meetings and programmes during the visit, underlining the high command’s intent to maintain internal equilibrium.
It is pertinent to mention that Tariq Hamid Karra was appointed as JKPCC president in August 2024, replacing Vikar Rasool Wani, a move that had triggered dissatisfaction among a section of party leaders and led to visible factional lines within the organisation.
Political observers believe the high command’s strategy reflects an attempt to prevent organisational drift at a time when the party is struggling to revive itself after its poor performance in recent elections. However, party workers fear that continued factionalism could weaken the Congress at the grassroots level unless the leadership moves towards a clearer and more unified command structure.
For now, the Congress central leadership appears to be walking a tightrope — backing the present PCC chief while keeping rival leaders within the fold — in an effort to maintain unity and prevent further fragmentation of the party in Jammu and Kashmir.