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| Open factionalism surfaces in State Congress, Soz, Azad hold parallel rallies | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, JAN 30; With Congress holding two separate rallies in winter Capital here today, the vertical division in the State unit of the Party has openly come to fore. The Party state president and former Union Minister, Saif-ud-Din Soz and Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad who were at draggers drawn with each other have now publicly made their rivalry known.
The Azad camp of PCC who had earlier announced holding of a rally at Parade on Martyrs' Day as his show of strength was caught by surprise after the second rally on the same day at a distance of six kilometres from its venue was announced by the PCC headed by Soz. Though both the factions are enjoying the patronage of Congress High Command and Sonia Gandhi but holding of two rallies in a sensitive state like J&K where Congress has yet to consolidate to make its base strong has disheartened the ground level workers, sources in the party said.
Sources said the open groupism in the party is slated to weaken its base in Jammu region where the Party is facing a stiff challenge from BJP as well as Panthers Party. The base of the Party in the region has already been eroded by the policies of National Conference which is heading the coalition government in the state. The rejection of the Congress demand for implementation of the Constitutional 73rd and 74th amendment in the state has also given a blow to Party's image which till date had made it a prestigious point that holding of Panchayat elections in the State was impossible till implementation of 73rd and 74th amendment of the Indian constitution in J&K.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his last visit to the State had stressed on implementation of the Constitutional 73rd and 74th amendment in the state after which the state leadership of the Party also perused this demand vigorously. However, with NC refusing to implement the same and the State Government going ahead with holding of Panchayat elections in J&K, coupled with the open groupism in the Party, the position of Congress has become more awkward in the border state now.
Sources said that though Azad is having a much clout in the Party but the role of Soz can't be ignored by the High Command who had created a history of sorts by defying the NC whip and voting against the Vajpayee led Government during No Trust Motion in 1999. For Congress Prof Soz has become more valuable than any other Congress leader in the state, the sources added.
Moreover in J&K the rival Congress camps are in race for one-upmanship. While the leaders and Congress activists are in two factions are in race to show their supremacy over each other, the Common Congress activist is worst hit by this groupism which is slated to diminish the Party's prospectus especially in Jammu region.
The factionalism in the party will have its drawbacks and after effects on the Panchayat elections in the state and its rivals who have an edge over NC and Congress in the Jammu region will leave no stone unturned in exploiting the situation to their advantage. Moreover the NC can also certainly take the benefit of this groupism within Party, the sources said.
Sources said the weak Congress within the state will also help its coalition partner NC to consolidate its position and support base more in the state. Hence weak Congress will be more in the interests of the NC in running the coalition effectively and taking the decisions which can be in the larger interests of the Party in consolidating its support base in Valley.
Sources said the weak Congress will allow NC to implement the policies which are more in the interests of Kashmir than the Jammu region and once there is no resistance from the congress ministers who will be more interested in keeping their ministerial berths intact than indulging in opposition to its coalition partner's policies, the NC will definitely call shots.
The NC has already harmed the interests of the Congress by debarring the BJYM leaders in unfurling the National Flag at Lal Chowk Srinagar on Republic Day and with BJP already making it an issue with masses it will be difficult for Congress to defend its position in the given situation, sources added. |
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