The Hindu : National : Race for J&K PCC chief begins

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Race for J&K PCC chief begins

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: With the resignation of Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed both as Education Minister and president of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, the race for the top slot has begun with many contenders lobbying for it. Mr. Sayeed is facing allegations of corruption as PCC chief.

Sources told TheHindu that the resignation had been accepted and the search for his successor had begun. The final decision would be taken by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Sources say Union Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz is the front-runner for the post. His name was proposed by the AICC and was conveyed to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

After consulting the committee, three working presidents would be appointed to run the party. Prof. Soz, being non-controversial and a member of the party’s core group, is being considered but it is not known whether he will accept the position.

In the past, he declined to head the PCC but sources said that now the situation was different and the State was scheduled to go to the polls in a few months.

The names of Chowdhary Mohammad Aslam and Ghulam Rasool Kar are also being considered.

The name of Mr. Azad himself has been doing the rounds in the last couple of days.

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