After GN Azad's Resignation, Mass Congress Exit In Jammu and Kashmir

After veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad's exit, the Congress today faced an exodus in Jammu and Kashmir, his home turf. Over 60 leaders resigned today in support of Mr Azad, who is planning to launch his own party.

Tara Chand, former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister and several former ministers and legislators are among those who quit the Congress.

"Owing to the circumstances and the leadership crisis in Congress party, where a coterie surrounding party high command is calling shots in the most irresponsible manner and ruining the party.

"All of us had a very long association with the party spanning over decades and devoted all our energy and resources towards expanding the party in Jammu and Kashmir, but unfortunately we found that the treatment meted out to us was humiliating," former MLA Balwan Singh said, reading out from the joint resignation letter signed by 64 leaders and senior functionaries from across Jammu province.

The letter further said "With our leader and mentor Ghulam Nabi Azad having resigned from the party on the issue listed by him in a letter to you (Sonia), we believe that we should also come out of Congress to make some worthwhile contribution in building a positive political society where people are heard and responded too."

On Monday, four Congress leaders, including the former Deputy Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, resigned.

Mr Azad quit the Congress, his party of over five decades, on Friday, with a cutting resignation letter targeting the Gandhis, especially Rahul Gandhi, whom he called out for "childish behaviour" and "immaturity".

Since then, over a dozen key leaders of the Congress, including former ministers and legislators have quit and announced their support to Mr Azad.

A large number of Panchayat members and workers have also said they back Mr Azad.

Mr Azad claims 95 per cent party workers, Panchayat members and district development council members of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir have joined him.

Stung by the mass exits, the Congress unit in Jammu and Kashmir has attacked Mr Azad and said he will go the way of Amarinder Singh, another Congress veteran who quit and launched his own party but lost in the Punjab election.

The difference, however, is that Amarinder Singh was isolated after the Congress sacked him and few party leaders joined him; Mr Azad has literally taken the Congress away with him in J&K, his supporters say.

"Those who left the party, we consider them as scrap that is gone now. We will bring new faces with new vision," said Vikar Rasool, J&K Congress chief.

Mr Azad, in an interview to NDTV yesterday, confirmed his plan to launch a party and ruled out any collaboration with the BJP.

"No, because either will they benefit from me, nor will I benefit. Their vote bank, need not be said, is a particular vote bank. My vote bank is another particular vote bank," Mr Azad said.

There is "no question" of aligning with the BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, he asserted.

"If somebody knows the ABC of Jammu and Kashmir, they would have realised that neither the BJP nor I will get any benefit if I align with the BJP," said the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister.