SRINAGAR: After leaving Congress after over half a century, Ghulam Nabi Azad has said that he is not joining BJP. Instead, he will be launching his own political party and it will start in Jammu and Kashmir, his home state.
The party is likely to be launched in September. This will add another party to the politics-deficient and political-party-abundant Jammu and Kashmir. Post-resignation, Azad is planning his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Azad had hinted that he will launch his own party in the 5-page resignation letter that has been sent to the 7-Akbar Road, where the Congress president lives. Incidentally, Sonia Gandhi is currently in the US for health reasons. “Some of my other colleagues and I will now persevere to perpetuate the ideals for which we have dedicated our entire adult lives outside the formal fold of the Indian National Congress,” Azad had written in the resignation letter.
Political Parties in J&K will face tough time while searching candidates. Apart from Congress, BJP, NC, PDP, PC, Apni party, AAP, team Azad Sb etc 95% of DDC, BDC will contest assembly elections also. TANDAV hoga TANDAV. #JammuKashmir
— Guftar Ahmed (@GuftarAhmedCh) August 26, 2022
Within hours after his resignation, a number of Azad loyalists resigned one after another. There is the likelihood of more resignations in the coming days as Azad wields a lot of influence over the party. He always had a group of his own even when he was in Jammu and Kashmir. Some of them would join his flocks once he launches a party. Those who have resigned from the party include GM Saroori, Haji Abdul Rashid, Mohammad Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani and Choudhary Mohammad Akram.
Congress has regretted the timing of his resignation and said his DNA has been “Modi-fied”. In Srinagar, Dr Farooq Abdullah has said the Congress will survive the setback. “Long rumoured to be in the offing but a body blow to the Congress nonetheless,” Omar Abdullah tweeted sharing the resignation letter. “Perhaps the senior most leader to quit the party in recent times, his resignation letter makes for very painful reading. It’s sad and quite scary, to see the grand old party of India implode.”
