Shortly after being made chairman of J&K Congress' campaign committee, Ghulam Nabi Azad resigns from key post - Details

Srinagar: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from a key party post in Jammu and Kashmir Congress, hours after he was appointed the chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Campaign Committee. According to sources, Azad's appointment was viewed as a demotion from his existing role as a member of the All India Political Affairs Committee of the AICC.

According to agency reports quoting sources, Azad cited health reasons to decline the offer. The move comes shortly after Congress president Sonia Gandhi appointed Vikar Rasool Wani as J&K Unit chief of the party and Raman Bhalla as the working president. In a major reorganization, Gandhi, on Tuesday, constituted the campaign committee, political affairs committee, coordination committee, manifesto committee, publicity and publication committee, disciplinary committee and Pradesh election committee of the J&K unit.

The campaign committee, which was formed by Gandhi had 11 members with Azad as the chairman. His resignation also comes shortly after his close confidante Ghulam Ahmed Mir resigned from the post of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president.

The latest reshuffle in party posts has reportedly angered many in J&K Congress. "The newly constituted campaign committee has ignored the aspirations of the party's grassroot workers in J&K. Injustice has been meted out to them. That's why Ghulam Nabi Azad has resigned as he was unsatisfied with the committee," said Congress leader Ashwani Handa.

"We're unhappy as senior leaders weren't consulted before taking decision on J&K PCC chief. We've resigned from party's coordination committee as protest against recent announcements of PCC chief. I've resigned from Congress' primary membership," Congress ex-MLA Haji Abdul Rashid Dar said, news agency ANI quoted.

This is the latest from Azad, who has been a part of the G-23 members, who have voiced their dissent against the Congress leadership demanding a 'collective and inclusive leadership' for the grand old party.