| Jugal, Wani to rejoin Cong soon after Ghar Wapsi of Taj, Saroori | | | sANDEEP bHAT
Early Times REPORT
Jammu, June 27: Two close associates of Ghulam Nabi Azad former Cabinet Ministers Taj Mohi-ud-Din and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori—formally rejoined the Congress Party on Thursday, signaling a likely wave of return by other supporters of the former Chief Minister.
According to sources, former ministers and ex-MLAs Abdul Majid Wani (Doda) and Jugal Kishore Sharma (Reasi) are also expected to return to the Congress fold in the coming days.
As previously reported by Early Times, the Congress high command has quietly opened its doors to loyalists of Ghulam Nabi Azad, many of whom had expressed interest in returning to the party ahead of the last Assembly elections. However, insiders allege that certain local Congress leaders, driven by personal ambitions, sabotaged these “Ghar Wapsi” efforts, denying the party the potential electoral advantage.
A senior source remarked, “Had the party leadership allowed Azad’s loyalists to return before the Assembly elections, the Congress could have secured three to four more seats in the Jammu region.”
Notably, Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) contested 23 seats in the Assembly elections but failed to win a single one. In fact, five DPAP candidates polled fewer votes than NOTA (None of the Above), raising serious questions about the party’s viability.
Despite internal resistance, efforts to bring back experienced Congress veteran “Had the party leadership allowed Azad’s loyalists to return before the Assembly elections, the Congress could have secured three to four more seats in the Jammu region.”
The senior leadership expressed satisfaction over their return and emphasized that their presence would help strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Hussain revealed that “many individuals who had left Congress or joined other parties are now in touch with the JKPCC and CLP leadership. Several are expected to rejoin shortly through due process.”
Taj Mohi-ud-Din and G.M. Saroori have served Jammu and Kashmir as Cabinet Ministers and won multiple elections on Congress tickets. Haji Farooq Mir had contested the Lok Sabha election from Baramulla, although unsuccessfully, and currently holds the position of DDC Vice Chairman.
During the joining event, the returning leaders acknowledged that quitting Congress was a grave political misstep and publicly expressed regret over their decision. They reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Dr. Sayeed Naseer Hussain, JKPCC President Karra, and CLP Leader G.A. Mir, vowing to work with renewed commitment to strengthen the Congress Party across Jammu and Kashmir. |
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