A day before National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah takes oath as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, the Congress will hold its Legislature Party meeting in Jammu on Sunday. While former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad will be asked to take over as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, the party is yet to decide on a name for the post of Deputy CM. Sources said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was in favour of the former chief minister continuing in a prominent role in the state, particularly in view of the losses suffered by the party in Jammu due to the pro-Amarnath wave in favour of BJP. The sources added that Azad is expected to play an important part in consolidating the Congress’s position in J-K ahead of the Lok Sabha elections this year. In addition to choosing a CLP leader, the Congress leadership will also apprise the newly elected party legislators about its decisions on the modalities of Government formation in the meeting, which will also be attended by PCC chief Saifuddin Soz and AICC general secretary and J-K affairs in-charge Prithviraj Chavan. Sources added that after the Congress’s CLP meeting in Jammu, it would inform Governor N N Vohra about the party’s support to the NC. On the same day, Omar will meet the Governor staking the claim for Government formation in the state. The Congress is said to be keen on appointing a Hindu Deputy CM in view of its poor performance in Jammu. However, with senior leaders losing in Jammu, its choice was limited.
