Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 29: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Chief Tariq Hameed Kara taking a firm stand about not joining the National Conference led government till statehood is restored dealt a severe blow to hopes of senior Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir to get a cabinet berth.
Pertinently, CM Omar recently expanded his council of ministers from five to nine and had reportedly offered a single cabinet berth to the Congress party. However, the offer was ostensibly turned down by the grand old party.
Sources told Early Times that Karra enjoys backing of the senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the statehood demand to J&K and that has allowed him to take a “firm stand” over the issue.
They said that internal differences surfaced over ministerial berth as Congress chose statehood demand over ministerial berth. “Party’s decision to stay out of the Omar Abdullah-led government in J&K once again brought to differences between G A Mir, who favoured participation in the government, and others who insisted that the restoration of full statehood must take precedence over a ministerial berth.”
A Political observer said, “It’s an open secret that G A Mir favoured securing ministerial positions. He had been lobbying for a berth for the last two years, initially It’s an open secret that G A Mir favoured securing ministerial positions.
Mir had been lobbying for a berth for the last two years, initially for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
Mir was seeking a reward for his role in shaping the pre-poll alliance with the National Conference.
Despite Congress securing only six seats in 2024 assembly polls, its lowest tally in the last 30 years, Mir was able to strike a deal with the NC.
“Mir was seeking a reward for his role in shaping the pre-poll alliance with the National Conference. Despite Congress securing only six seats in 2024 assembly polls, its lowest tally in the last 30 years, Mir was able to strike a deal with the NC,” he added. “The central leadership’s reported backing to Karra reinforced the JKPCC president’s position on the restoration of statehood for J&K instead of a ministerial berth for G A Mir,” the observer said, adding,
“ G A Mir’s name had figured prominently in discussions surrounding the possible allocation of Cabinet positions.”
“Ministerial berth to Mir could have strengthened his standing at the constituency level, where he is facing significant anti-incumbency and resentment among party workers because of his unavailability in the constituency. To overcome the anti-incumbency, he was keen to join the Council of Ministers in the Omar-led government,” said a source.
He said, “Congress not joining the government has reinforced the party’s stand that the restoration of statehood must remain a central condition for participation in the government. The central leadership, backing the position, has given edge to Karra and former JKPCC Chief Vikar Rasool as both of them have been vocal about statehood demand.” | 