Jammu and Kashmir Congress is in turmoil after the resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from a critical post in the state campaign committee. 

The Congress party on Tuesday announced a major overhaul in the J&K state unit but the departure of the veteran leader has raised questions.

Ghulam Nabi Azad had cited health issues for his resignation but according to sources, the appointment was seen as a demotion for the leader was already part of All India Political Affairs Committee of the AICC.

Reshuffle in J&K Congress

On Tuesday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Vikar Rasool Wani as Jammu and Kashmir unit chief and Raman Bhalla as the working president.

The move comes one month after the resignation of the former state unit chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir, a close confidante of Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The Rebellion

The reorganization in J&K Congress has reportedly not gone well with many party leaders in the state unit.

Congress leader Ashwani Handa claimed that Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from his post as he was not satisfied with the new committee. He further criticized the party’s high command for neglecting the party’s grassroots workers in the state.

Congress ex-MLA Haji Abdul Rashid Dar has also resigned from the party’s coordination committee and party’s primary membership in protests against the party reorganisation.

Speaking to ANI he said, “We’re unhappy as senior leaders weren’t consulted before taking decisions on J&K PCC. We’ve resigned from the party’s coordination committee as a protest against recent announcements of the PCC.”

Ghulam Nabi Azad, is a senior Congress leader, former Chief Minister of J&K and has served as a Union minister. The leader was also part of a group, nicknamed G-23 after they wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi, two years ago, seeking a more collective and inclusive leadership.