As veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad severed his five-decade long association with the party, dropping a bomb with his five-page resignation letter in which he hit out at the party leadership, especially former party chief Rahul Gandhi, discussion abounded on the timing of his move as also where he goes from here.
The stunning move by the 73-year-old leader, who was earlier known as a Gandhi family loyalist, came right before the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party, is to meet to finalise dates for the election of the new party president. For good measure, in his letter, he said the election process involved “proxies being propped up” to take over the leadership and the “chosen one” would be “nothing more than a puppet on a string”.
It is believed that Rahul Gandhi is not ready to take over the reins of party and the Gandhi family would be looking to put forth a loyalist as its nominee for the presidential polls.
The unease over the timing of the resignation letter was expressed succinctly by AICC general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh when he said the “timing of the letter is awful”.
The resignation also comes right before the party is planning a mega rally in the national capital against inflation, and launch its ambitious Bharat Jodo 'Kanyakumari to Kashmir' rally on September 7.
There is also intense speculation on the future plans of Azad. In his letter, Azad, who was the lead member of the so-called G23 group of dissenting voices in the party, said, “Some of my other colleagues and I will now persevere to perpetuate the ideals for which we have dedicated our entire adult lives outside the formal fold of the Indian National Congress.” It is being speculated if other G23 group members will follow Azad out of the party. Especially of interest in this regard is another veteran leader Anand Sharma. Close on the heels of Azad quitting election committees of the party in Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma too resigned from the election-related panels in Himachal Pradesh.
It is learnt that Azad would turn his attention to Jammu and Kashmir rather than national politics. He is said to be on the verge of forming a new outfit in the union territory. A clutch of leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, in solidarity with Azad, have resigned from the party. Sources close to Azad said he is looking to play a more active role in the union territory, where assembly elections are expected to be held in the near future.
He is expected to soon visit Jammu and Kashmir to announce his plans and embark on his new political journey there. There is speculation on whether Azad's party will have an understanding with the BJP which is hoping to form a government in the Union territory.
