Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 28: Amid allegations of ignoring young deserving leaders in the just concluded Assembly elections, senior Congress leaders faced another allegation of fielding weak candidates on some seats to give benefits to BJP nominees.
On the official social media accounts of J&K Congress, screenshots of which circulated in different groups, some young leaders alleged that those at the helm of the affairs fielded weak candidates so that BJP nominees on some particular seats would easily emerge victorious.
To substantiate their allegations some young Congress leaders pointed out that little-known and undeserving weak candidates were given mandates on as many as half a dozen seats to ensure the smooth sailing of some of BJP’s senior leaders who contested elections on these segments.
“While during the seat-sharing talks with the National Conference, the party leaders unwisely surrendered many segments of the Jammu region where the Congress had the potential to win, on the other hand, mandates were given to weak candidates on some specific seats to ensure the victory of BJP nominees”, a senior leader told The Early Times.
Wishing anonymity, the leader said there were allegations that we Some young Congress leaders pointed out that little-known and undeserving weak candidates were given mandates on as many as half a dozen seats.
During the seat-sharing talks with the NC, the party leaders unwisely surrendered many segments of the Jammu region where the Congress could have won.
Weak Congress candidates were fielded in exchange for some financial benefits.
Candidates fielded over half a dozen seats were not active in public life.
Meanwhile, Congress’s fact-finding team headed by Ravinder Sharma today visited Vijaypur, Samba and Kathua districts and interacted with party candidates and functionaries of district and blocks besides leaders of frontal wings. The committee held detailed deliberations with the contesting candidates of the party, senior leaders and other functionaries and grassroots leaders of the party to know about the defeat of the party.
The party workers appreciated the initiative of the party to constitute a fact-finding team of senior leaders to reach out to grassroots party workers & suggest measures for strengthening the party.
The candidates and workers shared their views and experiences of the elections and suggested ways forward for strengthening the organization.
The workers expressed confidence that the party is still strong as compared to BJP and can emerge further stronger and counter BJP, if corrective measures are taken, as people have high hopes for the Congress party which is the only secular and democratic force in the region. | 