Ex-ministers Jugal Kishore, Majid Wani to re-join Congress today

Jammu, Nov 18: As a part of fresh wave of ‘home-coming’ in the J&K Congress, the former ministers Jugal Kishore Sharma, Abdul Majid Wani and ex MLC Subhash Gupta are all set to re-join their parent party tomorrow.

As per party sources, their re-joining will take place in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge J&K affairs Dr Sayeed Naseer Hussain in the function, being organised to celebrate the 108th birth anniversary of first woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi tomorrow, November 19, 2025, at JK Resorts Marble Market Jammu.

“In fact, they 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,” sources point out.

However, their return will come as a major setback to the former Chief Minister and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) supremo Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Reason being the trio was also among his (Azad’s) trusted lieutenants, who, at least, publicly had not severed ties with him, like his other loyalists, so far.

Though they, too, like others, had been weighing their options and contemplating ‘home-coming’, since the 2024 assembly elections yet it did not happen.

After DPAP’s formation by the former Chief Minister in 2022, Jugal, Wani were among scores of J&K Congress heavy-weights, who left the party to join Azad.

However, despite the hype, the party could not carve a niche for itself in the electoral battles, thus leaving a trail of disappointment.

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.

Party sources assert that in the days to come, more prominent leaders from other parties will join the Congress.

“There are many who have expressed a desire to come back or join. However, the party has decided that all such requests will be considered on a case-to-case basis. Every request will be examined and processed on an individual basis,” they stated.

In tomorrow’s event, besides, Dr Sayeed Naseer Hussain, who will be the chief guest, 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 will be there.

JKPCC president Tariq Hameed Karra will preside over the function while AICC general Secretary and CLP leader G A Mir will be the guest of honour.