 Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 3: The appointment of new District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents in Jammu and Kashmir has triggered a fresh debate within the Congress party, with questions being raised over whether the postings amount to promotions or demotions for several senior leaders.
While social media platforms have been flooded with congratulatory messages for the newly appointed district presidents, internal discussions within the party reflect unease, particularly over the appointment of leaders holding national- and state-level positions to district-level posts.
Notably, two national-level leaders have been named as district presidents. All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary has been appointed DCC president of Poonch, while Neeraj Kundan, AICC Secretary (Co-Incharge, Organisation) and former national president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), has been appointed DCC president of Jammu (Rural).
The appointments have been made under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, launched under the direction of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in consultation with Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Syed Naseer Hussain, aimed at rebuilding and strengthening the party’s organisational structure at the grassroots level. However, recurring organisational disruptions have exposed deep-rooted factionalism within the Congress’s Jammu unit.
On Friday, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the appointment of DCC presidents for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The decisions were taken after district observers, deployed by the party high command, submitted their reports following extensive consultations across the region.
According to the official list, former minister Yogesh Sawhney has been appointed DCC president for Jammu (Urban), while Neeraj Kundan will head Jammu (Rural). Dr Adil Farooq Mir has been named DCC president for Srinagar, and Pankaj Dogra has been re-appointed as DCC president for Kathua. Ajay Salathia has been appointed for Reasi, Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary for Poonch, Sanjeev Sharma for Samba, Sumeet Magotra for Udhampur, Javed Iqbal Lone for Doda, Pyare Lal Shan for Kishtwar, and Ashok Sharma for Rajouri.
In the Kashmir region, Mir Iqbal Ahmed has been appointed DCC president for Baramulla, Farooq Ahmed Bhat for Anantnag, Shabnam Jan for Shopian, Umar Jaan for Pulwama, Haji Farooq Ahmed Mir for Kupwara, Ajaz Ahmed Sheikh for Ganderbal, Muzaffar Dar for Budgam, Sheikh Farooq for Bandipora, and Abdul Rashid Lone for Kulgam.
The appointments mark a key step in the Congress party’s efforts to reorganise its district-level leadership ahead of future political challenges in Jammu and Kashmir. |
