Ghulam Nabi Azad to start J&K tour on Sept. 4 as more top Cong. leaders switch sides

Rumours point to local parties joining the Azad camp after he makes his plans apparent and floats a party

Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is set to launch a major membership drive and announce his roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir during his tour of the Union Territory (UT) that is starting on September 4, as dozens of Congress leaders on Tuesday switched sides.

Prominent faces of the Congress from the Jammu region — including former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, former legislators Abdul Majid Wani, Manohar Lal Sharma, Gharu Ram and Balwant Singh — formally announced their departure from the Congress on Tuesday.

The party has witnessed a major exodus since Mr. Azad’s resignation. Earlier, two prominent faces from the Kashmir valley, Shohaib Lone and Taj Mohiuddin, hinted at joining Azad’s camp. Two Congress national leaders, from the dissident G-23 group, may also accompany Mr. Azad during his first rally in Jammu on September 4, sources said.

“It was surprising to see that even before Azad sahib launched a new party, top Congress leaders are joining and many more will join in coming days. We have been approached by leaders from other parties too,” Salman Nizami, a close aide of Azad, told The Hindu.

Dozens of elected members have also joined the Azad camp. “Several  sarpanches, elected District Development Council members and Congress district presidents have resigned from the party and are joining us,” Mr. Nizami said.

Sources said several leaders from the Valley’s smaller parties, like the J&K Apni Party and Peoples Conference, are also in touch with Azad and were mulling to join “only after Azad announces his roadmap on September 4 in Jammu”.

J&K unit of the Congress in Kashmir valley has been reduced to three prominent faces — Vikar Rasool, Tariq Hameed Karra and Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed. In the Chenab valley, Mr. Azad has managed to rope in two influential leaders, G.M. Saroori and Majid Wani, so far.