JAMMU: Notwithstanding ‘blow hot blow cold’ reactions by the unnerved Congress brigade, Ghulam Nabi Azad’s resignation is a big jolt, rather tremor, to the grand old party that is at the brink of dismemberment in India’s Amrit Kaal post independence. From the so-called top leader to the ordinary functionary-everyone is using choicest invectives against Azad with a common phraseology that the Congress gave everything to the former stalwart, who, according to them, had otherwise no identity of his own, inferring that he was just a ‘Ghulam’, which is why media is blowing up the hash-tag ‘Ghulam Nahi Azad’.
For the Congressmen, the Congress means Gandhis and therefore each of their factotums actually imply to convey in their reactions that whatever Azad got, it was only due to Gandhis. This speaks of the slavery mentality of the so-called leadership which revolves around the Gandhis, which is why self-respecting politicians have no other recourse but to call it a day, even if having stayed in the party more than half of their age.
Congress has seen exodus of towering leaders like Capt Amrinder Singh, Kapil Sibal, Jyotiradhitya Scindia, Anand Sharma, Ashwani Kumar, RPN Singh, Jitin Prasad, Sunil Jakhar, Hardik Patel, Sushmita Dev and many others in recent months but Azad’s departure is a rude shock to the party. In his exit, the Congress has lost a matured strategist and a veteran leader, who enjoyed respect beyond party lines.
Ghulam Nabi Azad has put to rest all the speculations about joining the BJP, after indicating formation of a new party. These speculations were rooted in the huge praise showered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the floor of Parliaments when he retired as Member of Rajya Sabha and Leader of Opposition. Modi had become very emotional with his voice choking. This was not to lure him into the BJP but to acknowledge his contribution in nation building. This is a real asset for a politician.
Azad will be remembered as a great loyalist, who enjoyed a lot of respect and esteem in his home ‘state’-in all the then three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. But for the ‘grand betrayal’ by the Peoples’ Democratic Party in 2008, he could not accomplish his mission of holistic development of Jammu and Kashmir. He will be remembered for his initiatives like IITs, AIIMS, Tulip Garden, promotion to tourism and Super Specialities. Enjoying goodwill among the people, Azad’s departure will see a trail of exits of his loyalists in the Union Territory. The process has begun and it will certainly change the political equations in Jammu and Kashmir. While the BJP is likely to repeat-and even improve– its 2014 performance in the Legislative Assembly, the new party being floated by Ghulam Nabi Azad can emerge as a major factor in the government formation in case of the hung assembly. He will spoil all the poll prospectus of the Congress in most of the seats in Doda-Bhaderwah-Ramban belt. His new party will prove a death knell for the Congress in the Valley as also in the Jammu region, as most of its towering leaders are his ‘time tested’ and trusted lieutenants or disciples. Will Azad play a king-makers role that he has been doing during his decades’ long political career in the Congress across the country? The PAGD is at the brink of collapse; the other outfits like Sajjad Lone’s Peoples’ Conference and Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party will lose their sheen with Azad’s party emerging on the J&K scene. The arch-rivals turned friends -National Conference and the PDP-by all indications can again be seen ‘face to face’, given the feelers fromf Junior Abdullah, much to dislike of Senior Abdullah. The political turf in the Valley will see another player-a major one of course-in the form of Azad.
The fast changing political equations, post Azad’s exit from the Congress, may also expedite the holding of democratic exercise in the Union Territory. This being the scenario at his home turf, the man from Bhalesa is tackling the Congress’ word-war with immense degree of maturity. Maintaining his grace and cool, like ever before, he did not decry the Congress but he spoke in length about the humiliation being meted out by the senior leaders by Rahul Gandhi. He has not minced words in pouring out his hurt by blaming Rahul’s “childish behaviour” for “demolishing the consultative mechanism” within the party. He also slammed the “remote control model” and said that while Sonia Gandhi was the interim president, “all important decisions were being taken by Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs.” He describes Sonia Gandhi a nominal figurehead and says that senior leaders were attacked, vilified and humiliated. He observes that Rahul Gandhi has destroyed the consultative mechanism in the Congress, adding that a non-serious individual has been at the helm of the party. He also observed that the Congress lost because of Rahul’s “childish behavior.” He sees the Congress election process a sham and advises his ex-party to go for Congress Jodo before Bharat Jodo, while referring to the proposed Bharat Jodo Yatra of the fast dwindling old party of India.
