Ghulam Nabi Azad, who give up the Congress right this moment with a scathing critique of the Gandhis, primarily Rahul Gandhi, will launch a brand new celebration in Jammu and Kashmir.
The previous Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister advised information company PTI that he “will launch a brand new celebration quickly. The primary unit shall be in Jammu and Kashmir in view of impending polls”.
Quickly after his resignation, 5 Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders give up in his help.
Azad, 73, give up the celebration days after he rejected a publish within the Jammu and Kashmir Congress saying his suggestions for appointments had been ignored.
At the moment, the veteran chief slammed the Gandhis with a five-page resignation letter accusing Rahul Gandhi of “infantile behaviour” and immaturity and of letting a “coterie of inexperienced sycophants” run the celebration.
Azad wrote he joined the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir within the mid-Seventies, “when it was nonetheless a taboo to be related to the celebration, given its chequered historical past within the state from eighth August 1953 onwards – the arrest of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah being the nadir of its political myopia.”
His resignation comes forward of the 2024 nationwide election and amid indicators that the election of a brand new Congress chief shall be delayed but once more. The Congress is concentrated in the direction of a “Bharat Jodo Yatra” to be led by Rahul Gandhi subsequent month.
Azad, a former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member, was among the many celebration’s tallest leaders and the Congress’s face in Jammu and Kashmir.
If he types a brand new celebration, he has the choice of tying up with regional events in Jammu and Kashmir or partnering with the BJP, which might vastly achieve from a face like Azad within the area.
Earlier than him, former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh additionally floated his celebration after quitting the Congress. He tied up with the BJP for the Punjab election however didn’t make a mark.
Azad is among the many few leaders to take pleasure in goodwill throughout the spectrum. After his Rajya Sabha membership ended final yr, Azad reportedly obtained invitations from events just like the Trinamool Congress and Sharad Pawar’s NCP.
Nevertheless, his bonhomie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands out.
The Prime Minister choked up throughout Azad’s Rajya Sabha farewell in parliament final yr.
PM Modi shared an episode after they have been each Chief Ministers – of Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir. He referred to a 2007 terror assault in Jammu and Kashmir on guests from Gujarat. “I’ll always remember Shri Azad’s efforts and Pranab Mukherjee’s efforts when folks from Gujarat have been caught in Kashmir as a result of a terror assault. That evening…Ghulam Nabi Ji known as me…,” he recalled, preventing tears.
Describing Azad as a real pal, the PM stated: “I’d not allow you to retire, I’ll proceed taking your recommendation. My doorways are at all times open for you.”
Azad later praised PM Modi throughout a speech in Jammu and stated he hadn’t forgotten his humble roots.
Azad was a number one member of the “G-23” or the group of 23 leaders who wrote to Sonia Gandhi in 2020 alleging a management drift and urging main reforms.
When he was honoured with a Padma Bhushan this yr, many within the Congress stated it was due to his proximity to the Prime Minister and the BJP.
