Congress gets shot in the arm as 21 J&K leaders join party at Delhi

In a boost for the Indian National Congress, 21 leaders, including key figures from other parties, have joined the party in Delhi. This is seen as a setback for the Democratic Progressive Azad Party and Aam Aadmi Party in the region. The leaders are expected to meet with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi later today.

In a major shot in the arm for the Indian National Congress, at least 21 persons, including key leaders of

The 21 leaders from J&K, who joined Congress at Delhi pose with party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday. (HT File)

former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and Delhi CM Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party have joined the grand old party at Delhi in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

With their joining, DPAP and AAP have suffered a major jolt to their political prospects in the region.

While AAP, being defunct for the past eight months with no office in Jammu and an ally of opposition alliance ‘INDIA’, probably has no major stakes in J&K, DPAP, has seemingly borne the brunt of Monday’s development at Delhi.

Ever since Ghulam Nabi Azad parted ways with the Congress and launched DPAP, he has been extensively travelling across Jammu & Kashmir to brighten the political prospects of his party.

J&K Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani reportedly said, “Everyday people from every district of Jammu and Kashmir are joining our party. Today many former ministers, former MLAs, and leaders from AAP and DPAP have joined the Congress. It is a good thing. Congress will become number one party in J&K in the upcoming elections.”

The union territory has to go into maiden assembly elections ever since Jammu and Kashmir state was bifurcated into two UTs on August 5, 2019.

The 21 leaders who joined Congress are likely to meet party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the evening.

Leaders who joined the Congress on Monday:

1. Yashpal Kundal, former minister and two-time MLA from Panthers Party. He was the chief of the SC/ST and OBC department of AAP in J&K. He belongs to scheduled caste (Ravidas community) from Samba.

2. Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, former general secretary, DPAP, and two-time Congress legislator, former vice-chairman, J&K handicrafts with MoS status, former vice-president of J&K PCC.

3. Naresh K Gupta, member, working committee, DPAP and vice-president, DPAP Jammu province, two-time Congress MLC, former district president, Doda, which is the home district of Ghulam Nabi Azad.

4. Sham Lal Bhagat, general secretary, DPAP from Jammu province, former Congress MLC (PRIs). He belongs to SC community and also hails from Doda District.

5. Namrata Sharma, former provincial president of Altaf Bukhari’s Apni Party, former State women wing president, AAP and former corporator associated with NSUI, Youth Congress and Mahila Congress.

6. Saima Jan, DDC Member, Chadura in Budgam, former provincial president, women wing, DPAP.

7. Shahjehan Dar, DDC member, former prominent leader of DPAP.

8. Prof. (Dr.) Farooq Ahmad, former Director, SKUAST, former state chairman, grievances and district president, AAP.

9. Taranjit Singh Toni, DDC member from Suchetgarh, won against the ex-BJP minister, former chairman of AAP in J&K for administrative engagement and minority affairs, former president, National Conference Youth Wing, former president, Jammu Student Union.

10. Gazanfar Ali, a senior retired KAS Officer. He has strong influence on the youth and Shia community.

11. Santosh Majotra, state secretary, DPAP, ex-secretary, JKPCC.

12. Rajni Sharma, provincial secretary, DPAP.

13. Nirmal Singh Mehta, zonal secretary, DPAP.

14. Madan Lal Chalotra, state coordinator, Apni Party.

15. Hamit Singh Batti, Jat leader (AAP).

16. Ramesh Pandotra, retd SP, SC leader AAP.

17. Vaid Raj Sharma, AAP senior leader.

18. Mandeep Chowdhary, J&K Youth vice-president, AAP.

19. Nazir Ahmed Auqab, Chairman.

20. Maheshvar Vishwakarma.

21. Jung Bahadur Sharma, joint secretary DPAP.