news details |
|
|
| Azad, Soz loyalists clash | | Both claim for CM candidate | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 23: The Congress meeting at Srinagar witnessed virtual clash between supporters of two stalwarts Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz with both vying and vouching for their leader to be projected as Chief Ministerial candidate in ensuing Assembly elections. Hot exchange of expressions using bitter words from both sides came in to be seen as the meeting progressed in presence of both the leaders besides Ambika Soni, with workers strongly trying to justify their claim while citing reasons for the same. The meeting which was to culminate in one session on account of clamour and din that prevailed for along time had to be stopped. It later resumed and continued till late in the evening. The party leadership is coming out with some important announcements tomorrow morning which are significant for the party prospects when it faces Assembly polls by the end of year.
Sources said the meeting was necessarily called to discuss certain important issues including current status of coalition Government and the ties of Congress with National Conference in the alliance Government. Sources said while the meeting progressed on key matters, when the issue of Assembly elections came up discussion, the meeting suddenly saw uproarious arguments from supporters and staunch loyalists from both Azad and Soz. While Soz supporters strongly favoured Soz to be projected as CM candidate, this was vehemently rejected and decried by Azad loyalists on the ground that his stewardship in PCC had not worked well for the party in terms of electoral gains nor did he succeed in managing organisational affairs in accordance with the aspirations of all the regions.
Sources said on one hand Azad loyalists also cited what they termed as 'dictatorial' attitude of Prof Soz as PCC chief all these years which had brought party to current passe of demoralization and debacle on all fronts, Soz supporters also pushed the punch in same wave length citing Azad not acceptable to majority of constituencies in Valley as CM on account of his indispensibilty in the past to the extent which widened gap with masses on ground besides his defeat in LS polls as one of the major reasons of this distance with workers on ground level. While the meeting was put on hold for some time, it resumed to discuss more serious issues than just polls, mandate and CM candidate, sources said adding that the both alliance partners drifting apart on account of serious issues was the main subject on which views and inputs from all were solicited by Ambika Soni. Soni is learnt to have got approval of sort from High Command to go ahead with the majority view on pulling out of coalition which is why the press conference convened tomorrow morning assumes quite importance than seen as any normal briefing. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
