by Syed Shadab Ali Gillani
SRINAGAR: In a serious development, twenty-two senior leaders from the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) convened to address escalating tensions within the party, culminating in a resolution directed to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The resolution accuses the current JKPCC President, Tariq Hameed Karra, of organisational misconduct, electoral malpractices, and financial mismanagement, advocating for immediate action and overhauling leadership in Jammu and Kashmir.
The resolution, a copy of which is with Kashmir Life, outlines grave concerns regarding Karra’s leadership and highlights a series of actions perceived as autocratic, including “arbitrary restrictions” on senior leaders’ access to the PCC office and “disrespectful behaviour towards veteran Congress leaders who made immense sacrifices for the party.” The signatories allege a disregard for established party protocols, which they argue has furthered discord within the organisation.
In one of the resolution’s most striking claims, the Congress leaders allege a “deliberate conspiracy” behind the defeat of former PCC President Vikar Rasool Wani in Banihal, who had “consistent lead in pre-election surveys” and robust grassroots support. According to the resolution, “systematic undermining of his candidature” through resource misallocation and internal sabotage allegedly affected the campaign. It points to “coordinated misinformation campaigns” and other “manipulation of party machinery” as critical factors that led to Wani’s loss.
The resolution warns of ideological shifts within the JKPCC, claiming an infiltration of elements opposed to traditional Congress values and principles. Specifically, it alleges that under Karra’s leadership, there has been a movement to position Congress as a “proxy for PDP ideology,” with leaders from long-standing Congress backgrounds sidelined, raising fears of a diminished Gandhian presence within the organisation.
The leaders express indignation at the “unauthorised issuance of party mandates” to questionable candidates, particularly in North Kashmir and Jammu. The resolution points to alleged covert candidate inductions “under the cover of darkness,” facilitated by leaders including GA Mir, Solanki, and Karra himself.
The document highlights the “misappropriation of funds” allocated for the 2024 Assembly elections, citing a lack of transparency in expenditure reporting, with an “absence of proper accounting procedures” and an alleged failure to maintain documented records of expenses. The senior leaders have demanded a thorough AICC-led probe into financial transactions, as well as a stringent “freezing of organisational changes” until the investigation concludes.
The resolution includes explicit requests for Karra, along with GA Mir and Solanki, to be recused from any investigative processes due to a “conflict of interest in investigation outcomes.” Leaders cite potential risks including “evidence tampering” and “witness intimidation” as further grounds for recusal. They have recommended that the AICC constitute an “independent investigation committee” to ensure impartiality and uphold transparency.
Another area of contention is the last Srinagar Municipal Corporation election, in which Congress had a strong showing with 17 seats. The resolution accuses Karra of having “orchestrated a deal with Junaid Mattu,” which allegedly led to the party’s inability to secure either the Mayor or Deputy Mayor position. The perceived “betrayal” of the Congress candidates’ electoral victory has, the resolution states, caused mass defections to the BJP, significantly damaging party morale and credibility among urban voters.
The senior leaders have put forward a series of demands in light of the allegations, including:
Appointment of a new PCC President from a traditional Congress family;
Constitution of an AICC-level investigation committee to probe recent electoral defeats, resource management and irregularities in mandate distribution.
Reinstatement of senior leaders’ access to PCC office and party forums.
Implementation of strict measures to prevent the “infiltration of anti-Congress elements” in key party positions.
The resolution asserts that until the investigation is completed, Karra should be barred from issuing organisational orders, altering leadership roles, or making structural changes. It further recommends that “all organisational decisions require AICC approval,” with senior leaders actively involved in decision-making processes to safeguard the integrity of the JKPCC.
The resolution has been submitted to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, alongside the Congress Parliamentary Board and other senior AICC officials. The outcome of this request may determine the future leadership structure and strategic direction of Congress in Jammu and Kashmir. As Congress seeks to regain its foothold amid a shifting political landscape, these internal conflicts could impact its credibility and support in the region.
The resolution has been signed by GN Monga, Mohamad Anwar Ahat, Fayaz Ahmad Dar, Gul Sher Khan, Irfan Naqeeb, Bashir Ahmed Khan, Master Mahammad Maqsool, Shameem Iqbal, Muzamil Mushtaq, Fayaz Ahmad Khan, Dr G.N. Lone, Firdous Ahmad Wani, S Singh Bakshi, Dr Farooqm, Nazir Ahmad Lone, Adv. Sheikh Farooq, Haji Mohamad Yousuf, Ghulam Qadir Bhat, Irshad Ahmnad, Showkat Ahmad, Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, Reyaz Ahmad, Ghulam Mohamad Rafiquee, Mohd Anees Khan, Parvaz Ahmad, Rameez Ahmad, Javed Ahmad, Mushing Ahmad Bazez, Abdul Rasheed, Manzoor Ahmad Khan and others.
The party is facing a lot of music after it met a humiliating defeat in Jammu and succeeded in ensuring refuge in Kashmir with the help of the JKNC with which it has a pre-poll alliance. Strictly going by its history, the defeat led to a literal bifurcation of the party into two camps, one led by Karra, the winner, and another by Vikar, the loser. Vikar Rasool Wani was replaced on August 17, at a time when the campaigning had almost started.
Congress contested 30 of Jammu’s 43 seats but won only Rajouri’s ST-reserved seat. Those defeated by the BJP in Jammu included two of its working presidents, a former state president and various ministers. This has led to the demand for leadership change.
The anti-Karra camp alleges that he is trying to convert Congress into a “PDP proxy” as he has come to Congress after resigning from the PDP in 2016. The resolution, party sources said is the outcome of Karra constituting a committee to probe the party’s defeat ignoring the reality that he was the pilot of the sinking ship. The prob panel is led by Ravinder Sharma.
The demand for party overhaul came within days after various district-level leaders of Congress sought the removal of Vikar Rasool Wani from the party for “attempting to destabilise” and “inciting” indiscipline in the party.
“He incites others to question the decisions of the party high command vis-a-vis alliance with National Conference and other decisions concerning J-K Congress,” a source in the party told the PTI last week. “We will be seeking his immediate removal as Special Invitee Congress Working Committee (CWC) given the fact that he doesn’t deserve this position.”
The Karra camp is targeting G N Monga, the first of the 22 signatories of the resolution. “Monga has a compulsive habit of creating conflicts and damaging the party to serve his vested interests, which has been reported to the party’s high command on various occasions in the past. He finds his existence in the party only by creating conflicts, and always tries to portray himself as larger than his life size,” the PTI reported quoting an unnamed party source. “He shamelessly tries to cover up his biggest electoral achievement of garnering only 400 votes when he contested the assembly election from Baramulla.”
