Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 9: Internal bickering has once again come to the fore in the faction-ridden Jammu and Kashmir Congress after a senior party leader and former minister allegedly made derogatory remarks against a group of young leaders who have staked their claim for the party’s nomination to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
The controversy erupted during a recent meeting of senior and emerging Congress leaders convened to discuss the party’s strategy amid ongoing uncertainty over seat-sharing with the National Conference (NC).
Interestingly, the NC has not yet made any official announcement about leaving one Rajya Sabha seat for the Congress, but internal rivalries have already intensified within the party ranks.
Sources said that during the meeting, a senior leader—who has faced successive defeats in Assembly elections since 2008—made disparaging comments questioning the credentials of young leaders seeking consideration for the Rajya Sabha seat.
“Before staking claim for a Rajya Sabha berth, these so-called youth leaders should first see their status and contribution,” the senior leader reportedly remarked, triggering outrage among several participants.
The remarks drew a sharp reaction from a prominent woman leader known for her vocal stand on intra-party democracy. She strongly objected to what she described as “arrogant and demoralizing behavior” by the veteran leader, accusing him of trying to stifle the growth of the younger generation within the party.
“She reminded the senior leader that the Congress cannot afford to suppress young talent at a time when the party is struggling to regain ground in Jammu and Kashmir,” a Internal bickering has once again come to the fore in the faction-ridden Jammu and Kashmir Congress.
A senior party leader and former minister allegedly made derogatory remarks against a group of young leaders.
These young leaders have staked their claim for the party’s nomination to the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
The senior leader—who has faced successive defeats in Assembly elections since 2008—made disparaging comments questioning the credentials of young leaders leading to a row.
Drawing a comparison with the BJP, the woman leader reportedly said, “The Congress must learn from the BJP, which nurtures and promotes its young leadership instead of suppressing it. If we keep discouraging emerging voices, the party will remain stagnant.”
Party insiders said that the incident has further deepened existing divisions within the state Congress unit, where groupism has long been an open secret. The exchange of words during the meeting not only exposed the growing generational divide but also highlighted the lack of consensus over candidate selection and leadership direction.
Ironically, the senior leader who made the controversial remarks is himself accused of promoting family politics. Party sources pointed out that he had unsuccessfully tried to project his own son in local body elections, where the latter suffered a humiliating defeat in the District Development Council (DDC) polls.
“The leader who talks about merit and experience conveniently forgets that his own family experiments have failed miserably,” said a young Congress functionary on condition of anonymity. “The Congress in Jammu and Kashmir needs introspection, not intimidation.”
The latest episode has reportedly reached the notice of senior Pradesh Congress Committee leaders, who are concerned about the impact of such internal discord on the party’s image ahead of crucial electoral contests. While official statements have so far been avoided, insiders admit that the leadership may soon have to intervene to restore order and unity within the ranks. | 