Azad’s J&K trip a show of strength to Gandhis

Just a fortnight after his retirement from the Rajya Sabha, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad headed to Jammu to address a series of public meetings. His outing is being seen as a show of strength to the party high command as several leaders who had written a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi demanding organisational changes are accompanying him. These include Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Vivek Tankha and Manish Tewari.

Most of these leaders have been sidelined in the party and none of them are involved in preparing for Assembly elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Puducherry and Assam.

Mr Azad, who is well versed with the working of the DMK, was not sent to negotiate seat sharing. Instead, Randeep Surjewala was. This has added to the angst of Mr Hooda who was hoping to get support from the party to topple the Khattar government. Mr Anand Sharma is also hurt as he was overlooked for the post of Leader of Opposition, which went to Mallikarjun Kharge.

The change seekers in the party realise that their “constructive suggestions” are being ignored. Even after a marathon meeting with Mrs Sonia Gandhi in the last week of December there has been no movement.

The campaign for the upcoming Assembly elections is being led by Rahul Gandhi. If the results are in the Congress’ favour, it will be a major boost for the high command. Else the G-23 will again ask for sweeping changes in the party and this time they may just find many more supporters.