Cong faces lonely battle in J&K, Jharkhand

Even while struggling to recover from the electoral defeats in Maharashtra and Haryana, the Congress looks isolated in Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir too, where Assembly polls are scheduled in November.

In Jharkhand, where the grand old party is part of the ruling alliance, talks with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) are going nowhere. In J&K, the party is going it alone after severing ties with the National Conference.

There is pressure on the party high command to sever ties with the JMM. The local Congress leadership is demanding more than 45 seats of 81 from the JMM, which is not ready to concede more than 40. The Congress will have to share the seats allotted to it with its allies RJD and JD(U) as well.

Another suggestion before the Congress high command is to break away from the JMM and forge a ‘better’ alliance where the Congress will have an upper hand. A final decision on the alliances will be taken by a committee headed by veteran leader AK Antony.

Congress circles feel the JMM is taking a rigid stand on the alliance for a possible post-electoral tie-up with the BJP in the State.

In J&K, the party had decided not to field senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad and Saifuddin Soz. However, Azad, a former CM, is likely to head the party’s campaign committee. The Congress is expecting an exodus from its folds ahead of the elections.

Its senior leader Mangat Ram Sharma resigned to join the Peoples Democratic Party recently. Another Congressman, Sham Lal Sharma, had resigned from the Omar Abdullah Cabinet, accusing the State Government of neglecting the development of Jammu region.

The Congress fears the BJP will poach its leaders, particularly from Jammu. A party leader pointed out that the BJP grew in Maharashtra and Haryana by offering ticket to Congress rebels.