Congress win boosts morale of J&K cadre

SRINAGAR: The Congress’ victory in the state assembly elections has pumped fresh energy in the party ranks in Jammu and Kashmir. Demoralised after the Amaranth land fiasco, the party is now hoping to sail though the odds and form the next government in the state.

“The victory in other states has boosted the morale of our cadre in Jammu and Kashmir. It will have a positive impact in Jammu and Kashmir. We are also confident that we will form the next government on our own,” said Abdul Gani Vakil, senior vice-president of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).

The Congress had 22 MLAs in the last dissolved assembly and it had the support of eight independents, who were designated as associate members. The party was in power for two and half years before its alliance partner, the PDP, withdrew support forcing Ghulam Nabi Azad to resign as chief minister in July.

The Congress and PDP had entered into a power-sharing agreement in 2002. Accordingly, the two parties were to lead the government for three years each. However, the PDP despite having less number of MLAs were given the first chance to lead the government in the “national interest”. But the PDP flouted the agreement in July and pulled the rug over the Amarnath land crisis thus pitting an end to the Congress-led government.

This time the Congress is pulling all stops to form the government without anyone’s support. After Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi’s canvassing, the party is hoping that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will consolidate the gains when he hits the campaign trail in the state. State party leaders are following the Delhi and Rajasthan campaign trend and playing the development card.