Arteev Sharma
Jammu: Over a month has passed since the deadline for submitting its report on the party’s historic defeat in the Assembly elections—where it failed to win a single seat in Hindu-majority areas of Jammu region, the Fact-Finding Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), formed to investigate the issue, has yet to deliver its findings.
According to party insiders, the committee, which undertook an extensive exercise by visiting various district headquarters to analyze the reasons behind the party’s dismal performance, is reportedly hesitant to fix responsibility. “This reluctance is attributed to the involvement and laxity of senior party leaders in the electoral debacle,” they said.
On October 18, JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra formed a Fact-Finding Committee and assigned it the task of preparing a comprehensive report within 30 days. However, more than 12 weeks later, the panel has still not finalized its findings.
“The formation of the committee was viewed as a significant step to introspect and identify the reasons behind the party’s worst-ever performance in the region. However, the missed deadline and the continued delay in submitting its report have raised questions about the seriousness and effectiveness of the initiative, with many grassroots workers and political observers doubting the party’s ability to address its internal issues,” insiders stated.
A senior leader, speaking to The News Now on condition of anonymity, said, “We fail to understand the purpose of forming a committee if it cannot achieve its objective of fixing accountability for the party’s worst-ever electoral debacle. There is no doubt that the senior leadership must be held accountable, and fixing their responsibility is essential for revitalizing the party at this critical juncture.”
The leader, who was part of the discussions with grassroots party workers at district level, claimed that the Committee reportedly came across a consistent narrative that “the senior leadership was largely blamed for the electoral debacle”.
“Workers criticized the leadership for being out of touch with ground realities, sidelining grassroots voices, and failing to devise a voter-centric strategy,” he said, adding “Senior party leaders were too involved in internal rivalries and personal agendas to concentrate on the campaign. The concerns of the people and grassroots workers were overlooked, leading to the worst defeat in the party’s history”.
The committee, according to the leader, encountered tough questions from grassroots workers and local leaders, who alleged that serious differences within the senior leadership adversely contributed to the party’s dismal performance.
“Several factors have delayed the submission of the final report, including disagreements among committee members over how to interpret the feedback gathered during their meetings. The panel continues to struggle to address the contradictory grievances of various factions within the party. While the feedback received by the committee has been extensive, consolidating it into actionable recommendations has proven to be a major challenge,” admitted another Congress leader.
The leaders also asserted that the delay in submitting the report has exacerbated frustration among party workers, who see it as “another example of the organizational inefficiencies that have contributed to the party’s abysmally low performance.”
The missed deadline has also placed JKPCC chief Tariq Hameed Karra’s credibility at stake, as party workers and leaders had been hoping for decisive action following the formation of the fact-finding committee. While Karra had hoped the report would serve as a blueprint for revitalizing the party in the region, its delay has only strengthened perceptions of disarray within Congress.
The party insiders indicate that the Fact-Finding Committee is expected to present its report in the coming weeks, although no new deadline has been officially set.
Pertinently, Congress managed to win only six out of the total 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. It was the party’s worst-ever performance in the Union Territory as the party managed to win only a single seat, Rajouri assembly segment, in Jammu region.
