Tariq Hameed Karra reshapes Congress leadership in J&K, emphasising grassroots strategies and accountability.
New Delhi: The new president of Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir, Tariq Hamid Karra, has made drastic changes by replacing all district presidents just two months after his appointment as the state unit chief. The Union Territory has 20 districts housing 90 Assembly constituencies and five Lok Sabha segments.
A former legislator from Kashmir said, “There is a way to change the district presidents, it has to be done by consulting the ground cadre and then after there is the acceptance of a particular leader as the district president, then the names have to be sent to the high command and then wait for their attestation. And that is how the process is according to the constitution of Indian National Congress. But Karra has done everything on his own. Without consultation and without proper process, he has bypassed all the internal party laws “
A leader at AICC said, “Earlier the district heads would be appointed by presidents, now the list is sent by the state president to the high command after which it gets approved, and the selected individuals can formally take their positions. But it is not just a formality, the names in the list can be replaced at the top as well. So first it is the president’s choice and then the high command checks whether the choice is right or not.”
Karra called for rejuvenating organisational systems and enhancing operational effectiveness within the party.
According to another former legislator, a section of state unit leaders has sent a letter to the high command seeking an immediate response to the actions taken by Karra. However, a leader close to Karra said that the changes were important as they had not performed in Assembly elections, as the minimal results were evident of their low performance.
He added, “Karra is an important and veteran leader. He is known for taking hard hitting decisions. He is thoughtful of whatever he does. Right now, he is the only leader in Congress who is well educated and understands the political dynamics of the party. He is working to purify the Congress of individuals who do not grasp their responsibilities. “
Moreover, Karra recently held a meeting which included discussions on effectively communicating Congress party’s core values to the public, as well as clarifying its alliance with the National Conference. While holding his first official meeting with the party’s newly appointed district presidents, he emphasised focus on strategies to strengthen the party’s grassroots presence. Karra called for rejuvenating organisational systems and enhancing operational effectiveness within the party.
“Bringing this system on track is a priority, also upcoming programs from the central leadership would aim for tangible impacts in local communities.”