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| Rotational CM issue comes to haunt NC! | | Dice loaded, New Delhi begins planning exit strategy for Omar | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
Jammu, Oct 1: In complete contrast to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's repeated claims over the issue of rotational Chief Minister, Congress leadership at New Delhi has loaded the dice and is reportedly thinking on the lines of giving the hi-tech man a job in the national capital for the next three years.
Though many in National Conference (NC) would dismiss this as "media speculation" but the fact remains that Congress think-tank in New Delhi has begun discussing, though in closed room, post-Omar scenario. A top Congress leader from the national capital briefed Early Times about the new line of action and affirmed that issue is not of bringing Omar in the union cabinet but who would lead congress-NC coalition.
He said "We have potential candidates but for Jammu and Kashmir, you need a man with extraordinary wisdom. Any further experimentation would prove disastrous for both Congress and National Conference (NC)." He reiterated that Omar has done his bit and now, Congress should run the government for the next three years.
Though the divided state unit of congress had been pressing for rotational Chief Minister since day one but none in New Delhi was interested but Omar's inability to stay away from controversies forced those backing him in Congress to take another view of the overall situation, the top congress leader claimed.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi's recent visit to Srinagar and Jammu, the congress leader who is regarded as man of controversies said "Despite sharp regional polarization, from students to congress workers, all urged Rahul ji to take the issue of rotational Chief Minister seriously." He added that Rahul Gandhi could have outrightly rejected the demand and asked the workers to fall in line.
"However, Rahul Ji preferred to put ball in the court of party high command, of which he is a vital component. All should now read writing on the wall. Omar should not get agitated and it would be wise, if he steps down on his own and allows the congress to lead coalition for next three years," said the aged congressman.
He did not mince words while saying that Omar enjoys patronage of both Rahul ji and Madam Sonia Gandhi. "They respect him for being straightforward and honest. They have affection and love for him. They stood behind him through the worst period of 2009 and 2010. Omar should respect this," the leader opined.
He clarified that while the final decision would be taken by UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in consultation with other senior leaders of Congress including Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Political advisor of Congress President Ahmad Patel, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad, J&K Incharge Mohan Prakash, JKPCC chief and potential Chief Minister Candidate Prof. Saifuddin Soz, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Inputs would also be sought from state congress leadership, added the congress leader. He said that while there are no doubts in congress taking over the leadership of coalition for next three years, there are also bleak chances of Omar being allowed to continue but with limited powers. In that case, sources confirmed that Congress would seek the portfolio of Home Minister apart from taking over Power and PWD.
On the sidelines of this development, another important development has taken place. Jammu and Kashmir's Congress unit is finally set to end its internecine war and the two factions led by Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and state party chief Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz are likely to join hands in the overall interest of the organization. Azad was Chief Minister during 2005-08 and state Congress chief earlier in 2002-05.
Staunch Soz loyalists like Sham Lal Sharma recently met Azad. Both factions seem to agree that infighting was hurting the party. Soz came to head the state party in January 2008. He had a working relationship initially. But in recent years, Azad and Soz loyalists have clashed on almost every occasion. Party is also feeling sidelined by National Conference. Congress leaders complain that the National Conference is taking it for granted and ignoring it too very often. Efforts to bring together Soz and Azad have been intensified after the return of Congress president Sonia Gandhi from New York. |
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