 Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 19: The internal divisions within the Jammu and Kashmir Congress have come to the fore as former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani was conspicuously absent from the party’s ongoing campaign in the Chenab region.
Incumbent J&K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra recently addressed a public meeting in Ramban under the “Himari Riyasat Hamara Haq” campaign, aimed at mounting pressure on the Union Government for the restoration of statehood. However, Wani, a native of Ramban, chose to boycott the event, signaling his growing distance from party affairs.
Wani’s absence is being seen as a direct result of his discontent following his removal as J&K Congress chief on August 16, 2024.
Since stepping down, he has largely remained inactive in politics. His dissatisfaction stems from the party leadership’s failure to dissuade its alliance partner, the National Conference (NC), from fielding a candidate in his home constituency of Banihal. Wani had represented Banihal in the J&K Assembly for two consecu Former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Vikar Rasool Wani a native of Ramban, chose to boycott Karra's event.
Wani’s absence is being seen as a direct result of his discontent following his removal as J&K Congress chief in August last year.
Wani was appointed PCC president in August 2022, succeeding G A Mir. At the time, he had chosen to stay with the party rather than joining Azad led DPAP.
Wani’s political future now remains uncertain as he continues to stay away from Congress activities.
A staunch Congress loyalist, Wani was appointed PCC president in August 2022, succeeding Ghulam Ahmad Mir. At the time, he had chosen to stay with the party rather than join veteran leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s newly formed Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP). However, his political future now remains uncertain as he continues to stay away from Congress activities.
After the worst-ever defeat of the party in the recently held Assembly elections, infighting in the Congress likely to prove disastrous.
Meanwhile, Karra’s campaign in the Chenab region has been gaining momentum, with party workers mobilizing support for the restoration of statehood. However, the absence of a senior leader like Wani highlights the cracks within the party, raising concerns about internal cohesion ahead of the elections.
With political equations shifting in J&K, the coming days will reveal whether the Congress leadership can mend fences with Wani or if the rift will deepen further. | 