Former CM Azad loyalists in ‘wait-and-watch’ mode

Even as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has hailed the continuation of Sonia Gandhi as the party chief, his loyalists in Jammu and Kashmir have adopted a “wait-and-watch” approach.

“As of now, we are watching developments in the CWC meeting and will not take any decision in a hurried manner,” said a loyalist of Ghulam Nabi Azad, adding that “since morning, all supporters of Azad are in touch with each other, waiting for Delhi developments”. He, however, expressed satisfaction that Azad had welcomed continuation of Sonia Gandhi as Congress president.

‘We’re with Azad’

The Congress without Azad in J&K will be a non-existing force and the party leadership was very much aware of it. We are with Azad, whatever decision he will take we will follow his direction. —Azad’s loyalist

The leader, who is a former minister, said that the Congress without Azad in J&K would be a non-existing force and the party leadership was very much aware of it. “We are with Azad, whatever decision he will take we will follow his direction,” he said.

Sources said some loyalists of Azad had tried to establish contact with their leader, but to no avail. “Without taking green signal from their leader, Azad loyalists are not going to give any statement,” a source said.

A majority of the Congress leaders owe their allegiance to Azad who belongs to J&K and has served as the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state.

Amid debate on the leadership issue in the party, the J&K Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir has issued a statement to support Rahul Gandhi as the party chief. The statement was issued by Mir only because the name of no other Congress leader was mentioned in the handout.

Meanwhile, J&K Congress chief Mir said the party stood firmly with Rahul Gandhi if there was any change of the Congress president.

“The J&K Congress Committee stands unwaveringly with Sonia Gandhi, but with the ongoing concerns, if there is any change of Congress president, the state Pradesh Congress Committee stands firmly with its leader Rahul Gandhi,” read the release by GA Mir.

TNS