Azad, a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Rajya Sabha member from the state, was recently made general secretary in charge of Haryana.
Ahead of polls, Jammu and Kashmir Congress leaders are hoping that the party high command will project the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad as party's chief ministerial face despite the fact that he has not been assigned any major role in different committees approved for J&K Pradesh Congress Committee.
Congress president Rahul Gandhi approved the proposal of Coordination Committee, Pradesh Election Committee, Campaign Committee, Publicity Committee and Media Coordination Committee for J&K Pradesh Congress a few days ago. Azad was made member of the three committees, but not entrusted with any big role.
However, Congress leaders in the state are not giving up on him being the CM face. "He is the tallest leader in Congress as far as Muslims are concerned. That is the reason, he will not take any role in the state immediately. But when elections will be near, I am sure he will take charge," said Usman Majeed, General Secretary of J&K Pradesh Congress Committee and former MLA from Bandipora.
Azad, a former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Rajya Sabha member from the state, was recently made general secretary in charge of Haryana.
Under the post-poll alliance between the Congress and PDP in 2002, Azad succeeded Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and became the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir in October 2005 before PDP pulled out in 2008 over the Amarnath land row prompting him to resign months before his three-year term.
"I am sure that he will take such a responsibility which will benefit Jammu and Kashmir. We have discussed the issues with various leaders. I am sure he will be face of the party", he said
Azad, who hails from Chenab Valley of Jammu division, had contested from Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency as a joint candidate of Congress and National Conference in 2014. However, he lost to BJP leader and Minister of State in the PMO Dr Jitendra Singh. Earlier, he had won assembly polls from Baderwah constituency of Chenab Valley after he took over as chief minister in 2005.
"Inshalla (God Willing) we will continue to efforts. He is a leader and he will certainly campaign", said Viqar Rasool, former Congress MLA from Banihal in Chenab Valley.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Ghulam Nabi Azad")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}