Jammu: Amid growing internal dissent within the party ranks over delay in formation of Pradesh Congress committee, the grand old party is likely to undertake a major organisational reshuffle in its Jammu and Kashmir unit.
The Congress high command is likely to undertake the exercise after the conclusion of Assembly elections in four states and one Union Territory.
Discontent has been brewing steadily mounting within the party ranks, with several senior leaders expressing frustration over the prolonged delay in the constitution of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) as nearly 18 months after Tariq Hamid Karra was appointed president of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress on August 16, 2024.
At present the party is continuing its functioning with the old PCC body. As per sources the delay in formation of PCC is also attributed to persistent factionalism and internal power struggles with existing party functionaries reluctant to demit their positions.
However in January, the party had appointed District Congress Committee (DCC) presidents for Jammu and Kashmir. It is learnt that the party high command is keeping a close watch on the situation as Jammu and Kashmir is well aware of the present scenario. All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Member of Parliament, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, is the Congress in-charge (Prabhari) for Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh also visits J&K frequently and must be well aware of the situation. However, insiders suggest that if the deadlock persists, the high command may be compelled to step in to break the impasse.
As per sources party leadership is awaiting the results of elections in five states including Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Puducherry before initiating significant changes within the J&K unit.
Party insiders say the absence of a structured leadership team has left the organisation in disarray at a crucial political juncture, especially with Panchayat and elections to urban local bodies in Jammu and Kashmir is on the cards.
Infact the exercise for updation of Panchayat Electoral Rolls-2026 has commenced in J&K from March. The organisational vacuum gives edge to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu region with its well oiledorganisational setup and regional players-National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party in Kashmir region as both have strong organisation on the ground. Several leaders, including district and block-level functionaries, have privately voiced concerns that the delay is hampering coordination, strategic planning, and grassroots mobilisation.
Tariq Karra’s appointment had raised hopes of re-energising the party cadre, but the absence of an organised executive has stalled momentum,” said a senior Congress leader.
JKPCC president has its work cutout as the Congress party which always had strongholds in Jammu region, fared poorly in Jammu region by bagging just one seat in the last assembly elections. It has been a challenge for Karra to regalvanize the party in the Jammu region.
Sources within the party indicate that Karra has struggled to strike a balance among competing factions, each vying for a larger share in the proposed executive committee. Efforts to ensure regional and community representation have further complicated the process.
