Although the Congress high command has appointed new district presidents in all twenty-one districts of Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the party at the grassroots level, these appointments have triggered a fresh debate within the party. Questions are being raised over whether the postings amount to promotions or demotions for several senior leaders.
Officially, there are 20 districts in Jammu and Kashmir. However, in terms of the Congress's organisational structure, the party has divided the Jammu district into two units—Jammu (Urban) and Jammu (Rural).
After a three-month-long exercise, the Congress leadership announced new district presidents for all 21 districts. However, the appointments have sparked internal debate within the party.
While social media platforms have been flooded with congratulatory messages for the newly appointed district presidents, internal discussions within the party reflect unease, particularly over the appointment of leaders holding national- and state-level positions to district-level posts. Officially, Congress leaders maintain that national-level leaders have been assigned these roles to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.
"I failed to understand whether it is a promotion or a demotion. Appointment of two national-level leaders as district presidents raises many eyebrows in the party", a senior Congress leader told International Business Times.
Notably, two national-level leaders have been appointed as district presidents. All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary has been named District Congress Committee (DCC) president of Poonch, while Neeraj Kundan, AICC Secretary (Co-Incharge, Organisation) and former national president of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), has been appointed DCC president of Jammu (Rural).
Both leaders had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Assembly elections. Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary had contested from the Surankote Assembly segment of Poonch district but lost to Independent candidate Choudhary Mohammad Akram, a former Congress MLA. Similarly, Neeraj Kundan had contested the Assembly election from the Bishnah constituency in Jammu district but was defeated.
The appointments have been made under the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, launched under the direction of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in consultation with Jammu and Kashmir in-charge Syed Naseer Hussain. The initiative aims to rebuild and strengthen the party's organisational structure at the grassroots level. However, recurring organisational disruptions have exposed deep-rooted factionalism within the Congress's Jammu unit.
On Friday, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge approved the appointment of DCC presidents for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The decisions were taken after district observers, deployed by the party high command, submitted their reports following extensive consultations across the region.
According to the official list, former minister Yogesh Sawhney has been appointed DCC president for Jammu (Urban), while Neeraj Kundan will head Jammu (Rural). Dr Adil Farooq Mir has been named DCC president for Srinagar, and Pankaj Dogra has been reappointed as DCC president for Kathua. Ajay Salathia has been appointed for Reasi, Mohammad Shahnawaz Choudhary for Poonch, Sanjeev Sharma for Samba, Sumeet Magotra for Udhampur, Javed Iqbal Lone for Doda, Pyare Lal Shan for Kishtwar, and Ashok Sharma for Rajouri.
In the Kashmir region, Mir Iqbal Ahmed has been appointed DCC president for Baramulla, Farooq Ahmed Bhat for Anantnag, Shabnam Jan for Shopian, Umar Jaan for Pulwama, Haji Farooq Ahmed Mir for Kupwara, Ajaz Ahmed Sheikh for Ganderbal, Muzaffar Dar for Budgam, Sheikh Farooq for Bandipora, and Abdul Rashid Lone for Kulgam.
The appointments mark a key step in the Congress party's efforts to reorganise its district-level leadership ahead of future political challenges in Jammu and Kashmir.
