Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 26: The appointment of Ashok Sharma as the president of the Rajouri District Congress Committee (DCC) has triggered internal discord within the faction-ridden Jammu and Kashmir Congress, with several leaders expressing resentment over the decision.
Highly placed sources said that Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Tariq Hameed Karra made the appointment without consulting senior Congress leaders from the Jammu region. The decision, they said, replaced former minister Shabir Khan “unceremoniously,” causing discontent among party ranks.
“Not even a single senior leader from Jammu was consulted before the appointment,” sources revealed, adding that “even the outgoing district president, Shabir Khan, was not taken into confidence before being removed from the post.”
Shabir Khan, a former minister and ex-MLA, had been serving as Rajouri DCC president since July 31, 2018. His sudden removal, without the involve The appointment of Ashok Sharma as the president of the Rajouri District Congress Committee has triggered internal discord.
JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra made the appointment without consulting senior Congress leaders from the Jammu region.
The decision replaced former minister Shabir Khan unceremoniously, causing discontent among party ranks.
Last week, Khan was appointed as Chairman of the Pahari Wing of the Congress, while on Saturday, former PCC Secretary Ashok Sharma was named as Working President for Rajouri District with immediate effect.
The appointment was formally announced by JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra in a press statement issued on Saturday. The statement said the position of DCC president Rajouri had fallen vacant following the elevation of Shabir Ahmed Khan as Chairman of the Pahari-ST Department.
“Sharma will perform his duties and responsibilities as acting president till the party appoints a district president according to the prescribed procedure,” the statement said.
The party also announced that following the demise of Dina Nath Bhagat, the post of Coordinator (Doda) had fallen vacant. Former PCC General Secretary Imtiyaz Ahmed Khandey has been appointed as the new coordinator for Doda District with immediate effect. | 