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| Cong ‘ousted’ from Omar’s ministry for preferring Tara Chand over Satish! | | | 
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 16: When Independent MLA from Chhamb Satish Sharma was taking oath as Minister in Omar Abdullah’s Cabinet, a pall of gloom was visible on the faces of Congress leaders present in the ceremony. From Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hameed Karra were definitely repenting their decision to come under the influence of former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand to deny the party mandate to Satish Sharma on the Chhamb Assembly segment. After being denied the mandate on the Chhamb Assembly segment, Satish Sharma raised the banner of revolt, contested the election as an Independent candidate, and emerged victorious by pushing Congress candidate and former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand to a poor third position.
Although Congress leadership is giving excuses for not joining Omar Abdullah’s government, it is a hard reality that the victory of Satish Sharma from the Chhamb Assembly segment is the only reason for Congress’s ousted from the council of ministers.
Satish is the only non-BJP Hindu MLA from Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, and Reasi districts and the National Conference preferred him over the factions-ridden Congress in the ministry.
Sources said that instead of accepting terms of the Congress, Omar Abdullah played a smart game and inducted Satish Sharma in his council of ministers.
“Had Congress given the mandate to Satish Sharma on the Chhamb Assembly segment, the situation would have been entirely different in today’s oath-taking ceremony”, a senior leader told The Early Times, adding, “ignoring budding young leader at the cost of former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand cost dearly to the party in the Assembly elections”.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hameed Karra announced that the party will not join the ministry due to the denial of statehood. Despite the National Conference securing a majority with the support of five Independents, Congress decided to offer outside support instead.
The party's decision was influenced by the National Conference's refusal to grant Congress more than one ministerial berth, despite their demand for two. Three of the six elected Congress MLAs were vying for ministerial positions.
Karra expressed the party's dissatisfaction with the Centre's failure to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a promise repeatedly made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He assured that Congress would continue fighting for statehood restoration.
The National Conference secured a majority with 42 members and the support of five Independents, making Congress' support unnecessary. The party's stance has reduced its role in the coalition government. |
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