Congress picks Ghulam Nabi Azad as J&K campaign chief, he declines

Congress on Tuesday effected a reshuffle in its Jammu and Kashmir by appointing Vikar Rasool Wani as its new president while making his mentor and veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad the Chairman of the Campaign Committee, as the union government is learnt to be speeding up the election process in the union territory.

However, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad declined the offer. Azad is a prominent member of the G23 grouping within the Congress which has been critical of the leadership and has been seeking an organisational overhaul.

Also Read | Sonia Gandhi reaches out to Ghulam Nabi Azad as tensions simmer in Congress unit

The appointments also come as the party has announced that its Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kanyakumari starting September 7 will culminate in Srinagar next January-end.

The Congress leadership had recently held a brainstorming session in Delhi on revamping its Jammu and Kashmir unit, during which it was learnt that Azad was asked to take more interest in the state.

Wani will succeed Ghulam Ahmed Mir, who had resigned recently as the internal fight in the party had intensified. Raman Bhalla has been appointed the new Working President.

Also Read: 'Shortcomings in penance': Discontent grows in Congress over Rajya Sabha nominations

The 11-member Campaign Committee would have been headed by Azad, and would have been assisted by Tariq Ahmed Karra as Vice Chairman. GM Saroori will be the Convenor of the panel which will also have Mir as a member.

Azad is also a member of the Political Affairs Committee which is headed by Karra and has Mir, Saifuddin Soz and six others as members.

Also Read — Congress announces 10 candidates for Rajya Sabha polls, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma not in first list

Mir has been accommodated as the Chairman of the 110member Coordination committee while Soz will head the 12-member Manifesto committee.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also cleared names for Publicity and Publication, Disciplinary and Pradesh Election committees. Wani will head the Pradesh election committee.

(With PTI inputs)