17 from Azad’s party return to Cong before Bharat Jodo Yatra in J&K | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

17 from Azad’s party return to Cong before Bharat Jodo Yatra in J&K

By, New Delhi
Jan 07, 2023 03:21 AM IST

The re-entry of the 17 senior leaders is set to strengthen the Congress organisation and also send the message that the party is getting stronger ahead of the yatra and crucial assembly elections expected to be held this year.

Days before the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra enters Jammu and Kashmir, at least 17 state leaders, including former deputy chief minister Tara Chand and former state unit chief Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, left Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Azad Party (DAP) and returned to the Congress. The exit of these leaders is seen as a major blow for the DAP’s prospects in J&K.

Ghulam Nabi Azad, who floated the DAP in September last year, said the 17 leaders lost their seats in the delimitation exercise (Shilpa Thakur)
Ghulam Nabi Azad, who floated the DAP in September last year, said the 17 leaders lost their seats in the delimitation exercise (Shilpa Thakur)

The padayatra will end on January 30 in J&K. The re-entry of the 17 senior leaders is set to strengthen the Congress organisation and also send the message that the party is getting stronger ahead of the yatra and crucial assembly elections expected to be held this year.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Welcoming the leaders back to the party fold, Congress general secretary for organisation KC Venugopal said, “People from all like-minded political parties are joining us in J&K. former CMs Farooq Abdullah Ji, Mehbooba Mufti Ji, are all joining us [the yatra]. Anyone who has a Congress mindset cannot sit idle. That’s why, all these leaders, who left us two months before, took a strong decision to come back to the Indian National Congress, walk with Rahul Gandhi and make the Bharat Jodo Yatra a great programme in J&K.”

The Congress has kept its doors open for all like-minded parties to join the yatra in J&K but Azad, who quit Congress in 2022 and criticised Rahul Gandhi’s leadership style, is unlikely to participate.

Azad, who floated the DAP in September last year, remained unfazed. He said the 17 leaders lost their seats in the delimitation exercise. “The people who rejoined Congress had lost their constituencies in delimitation exercise. Being old collogues, I gave them good posts in my parry despite knowing that they can’t contest elections. The party they joined is not aware that they have already lost their constituencies,” said Azad. The delimitation of constituencies, which added six seats in Jammu and one in Kashmir, was completed on May 5 last year.

Tara Chand, Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, ex-MLA Balwan Singh and leaders such as Md. Muzaffar Parray, Mohinder Bhardwaj, Bhushan Dogra, Vinod Sharma, Narinder Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Ambrish Magotra, Subash Bhagat, Santosh Manhas, Badri Nath Sharma, Varun Magotra; Anuradha Sharma, Vijay Targotra and Chander Prabha Sharma were among the party leaders who returned to the Congress.

Chand and Sayeed admitted the “emotional decision” to join Azad’s outfit was a “mistake”. Venugopal and senior leader Jairam Ramesh dubbed their exit as a “vacation of family members”.

When asked if the party has invited Azad, Venugopal said, “What is the problem, he himself denied. You have already answered that question, finally. In the beginning, we said that those who believe in the ideology of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, can join. All are welcome.”

Chand also questioned Azad’s intent and said, “Today the whole of India and especially the secular forces in Jammu and Kashmir need to be strengthened. Efforts are being made to take the wrong place; efforts are being made to weaken the secular forces. So, we came back to our house again.”

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On