To rejuvenate Congress, Azad hints at ‘return’ to state poltics

JAMMU: Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday announced to return to the state politics to review “badly shattered” confidence of party workers in J&K, ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.

Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses a rally in Doda. file photo

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 21

Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday announced to return to the state politics to review “badly shattered” confidence of party workers in J&K, ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections.

While addressing party leaders on the second day of his marathon meetings to ascertain causes for the worst-ever debacle of the party in the Lok Sabha elections, Azad tried to convince the “demoralised” cadre that Congress was still a strong force in the Jammu region and there was a need to establish contact with the common masses.

Following his meetings on Saturday and Sunday, Azad returned to Delhi after giving directions to the local leaders.

“I am going to start a four-phase campaign in J&K from July 25 to rejuvenate the party and to boost morale of the cadre at the grassroots level,” a source quoting Azad said, adding that the former Chief Minister also announced that he would play active role in the state politics to ensure that Congress returned to power after the Assembly elections.

Wishing anonymity, a senior Congress, who was part of the meeting held on Saturday evening, told The Tribune that Azad had dropped hints that he was going to take command of the party in J&K to retrieve the lost ground.

Sources said Azad held a series of meetings with party leaders of Jammu province. “Instead of taking any feedback from leaders, Azad gave them a clear message that he will not tolerate a casual approach in the campaign,” a source said, adding, “He also warned leaders against using social media for cheap publicity.”

Notably, Azad was Pradesh Congress Committee president in May 2002 when the party was facing a similar situation in J&K ahead of the Assembly polls. Under the leadership of Azad, the Congress returned to power as the party had formed coalition government with the PDP under the leadership of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. After the 2002 Assembly elections, Azad was shifted to national politics.