Ex ministers Jugal Kishore, Majid Wani rejoin Congress

Jammu, Nov 19: Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) Wednesday celebrated the 108th birth anniversary of first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, with the “home-coming” of its few senior leaders, including two former ministers - Jugal Kishore Sharma and Abdul Majid Wani.

They returned to the parent party fold after their “not so eventful” over three-year long inning in the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) – the political venture of the former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

They were among those J&K Congress heavy-weights – all Azad loyalists – who left the party in 2022 to be part of his (Azad’s) newly-launched DPAP.

Besides the duo of Jugal Kishore and Abdul Majid Wani, the former Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Subhash Gupta and a senior DPAP leader Brij Mohan Sharma also rejoined the party – all with a large number of their supporters.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge J&K affairs Dr Syed Naseer Hussain was the chief guest at the function. JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra presided over the function while AICC general secretary and CLP leader G A Mir was the guest of honour.

AICC secretaries co-incharge J&K Pargat Singh and Divya Maderna; national president Youth Congress Udey Bhanu Chib and national president NSUI Varun Chaudhary too attended the event.

The majority of all the senior leaders, who had deserted the party in 2022, already made a comeback one by one or in smaller groups, Jugal and Wani dropped the hints of “homecoming” only in 2024 ahead of assembly elections.

As per party sources, these senior leaders, particularly Jugal and Wani – who wielded significant influence in Reasi and Doda districts and also represented the party from there, were supposed to join ahead of assembly elections as they were keen to contest on party tickets. However, it did not happen as the party high command decided that the tickets would be given to those who stood by the party even in adverse circumstances.

Both Sharma and Wani unsuccessfully contested elections from newly carved Vaishno Devi assembly segment and Doda assembly constituency respectively.

While the Congress leaders are projecting their ‘homecoming’ as the growing confidence of people and veteran politicians in the party’s principles despite its lean patch, their return has come as a major setback to the former Chief Minister and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) supremo Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Despite the hype, the party could not carve a niche for itself in the electoral battles, thus leaving a trail of disappointment for all those who joined it.

Following a debacle in assembly elections in 2024 when DPAP could not win even a single seat, Azad dissolved all party units, including state, provisional, district and block committees, thus leaving all the leaders and workers, who left Congress with him in dire straits.

After re-joining the party, while addressing the gathering and later speaking to media persons, both Jugal and Wani asserted, “It’s homecoming for us as we always lived the Congress principles, even when we were away from it.”

“Congress’ principle of secularism is closer to heart. Here we enjoy the true freedom of speech. To use religion to garner votes and pursue politics is not in my nature,” Jugal Sharma said.

“Congress is part of our heart and soul. It has always remained so. Hence, we had to return to it. I’m happy to be back. Subah Ka Bhoola Shaam Ko Ghar Aa Jaye To Usay Bhoola Nahin Kehte  (It’s never too late to mend,” Wani stated.

Dr Syed Naseer Hussain and Karra, while addressing the gathering, stated that in the days to come, more prominent leaders from other parties would join the Congress.

“They are in touch with the J&K party leadership,” they said.

They all paid glowing tributes to the former Prime Minister.