First ever Cong convention in Srinagar today
Jehangir Rashid
SRINAGAR, May 18: Over 300 Congress delegates including Ministers, legislators, former ministers, Member Parliaments and district presidents are participating in the first ever one day state level convention of Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) here tomorrow.
The party delegates belonging to the three regions of the State have already arrived here to take part in the convention. Two senior Congress leaders Mohan Prakash and Janardhan Diwedi arrived for the convention here today while as Union Health Minister and former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad is expected to reach here on Saturday morning.
JKPCC President, Professor Saif-ud-din Soz is overseeing the overall arrangements for the convention going to be held at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC).
Talking to Excelsior, Senior Vice-President PCC and Congress spokesman, Mohammad Muzaffar Parray said that the aim and purpose of the convention is to bring about unity in the party. He said the delegates would discuss and deliberate on the steps that can be taken to strengthen the party in the State.
“The convention is unique in the sense that it is for the first time that such a huge event of Congress party is being organized at Srinagar. During the convention discussions would be held in order to bring about a consensus for the election of the JKPCC President. This time most of the Congress leaders and other rank and file are in favour of electing the JKPCC President,” said Parray.
The Congress spokesman said that Ghulam Nabi Azad, and other senior leader are in favour of making Congress a strong party in the state. He said Congress President, Sonia Gandhi has also asked the party leaders to work for strengthening the party. He said Azad and other leaders want the party to come up as a strong political force so that a challenge is posed to the other political parties.
“Congress general secretary and in-charge Jammu and Kashmir affairs, Mohan Prakash is attending the convention while as another general secretary, Janardhan Diwedi is attending as a special invitee. We want the Congress to come to the power on its own without support of any crèches. The delegates would carry out their discussions during the convention,” said Parray.
He said there is likelihood that a consensus would emerge during the convention about the candidature of a person for the post of JKPCC President. He added the Congress party believes in democratic process adding that this holds true for the election of the JKPCC President as well.
“During the convention if there is a consensus about the candidature of a person for the JKPCC President then the same would be forwarded to the Congress President and she would take the final decision. The election of the JKPCC President along with the steps taken for strengthening the party would be the focal point during the convention,” said the Congress spokesman.
Parray said that there are neither two factions of Congress in the State nor there are differences. He, however, was quick to add that differences if any are good for the overall health of the party. He said the Congress leadership in the State is as strong as granite monolith.
“The convention has nothing to do with the assembly elections scheduled to be held in 2014. Elections are far away and cannot presume the situation up to that moment of time. The convention would discuss the organizational matters more so those relating to the election of next PCC President,” said the Congress spokesman.
More than 300 Congress delegates including sitting Ministers, legislators, former Ministers, MPs, district presidents and at least one representative from each block will be participating in this convention.
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