Srinagar, Aug 22: Amid mounting tension with its alliance partner National Conference (NC) and a political storm triggered by its senior minister after his ‘Hindu CM remark,’ the state Congress has convened a crucial meet to hash-out the issues on hand. The party besides deciding on the mandates for the upcoming assembly elections is also going to deliberate on the issue of strained relations with its coalition partner NC.
According to Congress sources, the PCC chief Prof Saifuddin Soz has convened the party’s election committee meeting to finalize the mandates. “The meeting is likely to be held on August 25 or 26 either in Srinagar or Jammu,” they said.
The meeting assumes significance given the fact that Congress is yet to issue the first list of its candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections which the party is contesting on its own. Pertinently, the Congress is under tremendous pressure to stage a comeback after facing complete rout in the Parliamentary polls.
Sources said Soz, who is the chairman of the Congress election committee, will seek feedback from the party ministers, leaders and other office bearers so that the list of mandates is forwarded to the high command for approval. “Soz has been getting inputs from various quarters not to field the ministers or leaders who have tainted image as it is going to further dent the party’s chances of winning any seats,” a source said. Interestingly, many senior ministers of the party are facing graft charges.
Sources said Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and former J&K chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will also attend the meet. “The meeting will also discuss the issue of delay in cabinet meetings and Coalition Coordination Committee (CCC) meetings. The Congress leaders will also ask the senior cabinet minister Sham Lal Sharma to explain his stand on his recent remarks that JK should have a Hindu chief minister,” sources said