Ghulam Nabi Azad appointed Congress campaign chief for poll-bound J&K

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad was on Friday appointed as the Chairman of its campaign committee for Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, which gets underway on November 25.

The appointment of Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, was done by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, AICC General Secretary Ambika Soni told PTI.

Congress is banking on the popularity of Azad during his term as Chief Minister of the state between 2006 and 2008 when all-round
development was ensured in J-K.

The appointment is also seen as striking a balance within the state unit which has often seen clashes between supporters of J-K Pradesh
Congress Committee Chief Saifuddin Soz and Azad. However, neither Azad nor Soz is contesting the upcoming polls.

Congress had been in an alliance with National Conference in 2009. However, both the parties decided to contest the 2014 Assembly polls separately.

The election over five phases in the state will begin on November 25 while the counting of votes is scheduled for December 23.

PTI