JAMMU: The Congress is in complete disarray across Jammu and Kashmir, not because the grand old party has lost its credibility and sheen at the national level, but fundamentally due to ‘ill deeds’ of its Pradesh leadership-from B&C grade leaders down to workers at the grassroots level-who have remained mired in controversies over evils like sex racket, corruption, nepotism, deceit and blackmail. With the possibility of assembly elections becoming more pronounced, the worries of the Congress have increased manifold, especially due to resentment and anger among the people against its rank and file.
The people in general and the civil society in particular, both in the Valley and in the Jammu region, still refuse to reconcile with the gruesome fact of senior Congress leaders including former Pradesh President and former minister having spent substantial years in prison over the serious charges of their involvement in the most infamous Srinagar sex scandal. Because of the evil deeds of many, most of the self-respecting Congress leaders have since resigned. The disenchantment among senior to middle rung leaders in the party is growing and they are just waiting for the right time to call it a day.
As almost all the political parties in Jammu and Kashmir are currently engaged in devising strategies with regard to the possible assembly elections in next few months, the Congress is grappling with alarming infighting over the mandate.
`Believe insiders, the tainted Congress aspirants have started bullying and blackmailing tactics to press their claim. The race for mandate has increased following the announcement by former Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah that the National Conference will not have any pre-poll alliance for the assembly elections, unlike the recently held Lok Sabha polls. One of the reasons for the National Conference to distance itself is the drubbing the Congress got in the two parliamentary constituencies in the Jammu region. The people discarded the Congress mainly because of the arrogance and reputation of its workers from bottom to top. Added to it is the role of the Congress in settling the illegal immigrants from Myanmar-Rohingya Muslims-in Jammu with a sinister agenda of changing the demography of the Duggarland. During its tenure in the coalition ministry in Jammu and Kashmir, the senior leaders including a cabinet minister were hand-in-glove to settle down the Rohingyas, who have emerged as a major threat to peace and tranquility in the City of Temples. To cope up with the most alarming situation, including massive infighting, the senior Congress leaders in J&K and at the Centre are feeling helpless to control the unbridled anarchist cadre.