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Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009
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Congress unfazed by J&K development

Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI: Though the Congress tried to dissuade Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah from stepping down, the party remained unfazed on Tuesday by the dramatic developments in the State and was confident that the crisis would blow over soon.

As soon as Mr. Abdullah announced his decision to resign following allegations by a People’s Democratic Party legislator that the Chief Minister was also involved in the Srinagar sex scandal, the Congress established contact with him.

Both, Congress general secretary in-charge of the State Prithviraj Chavan and Pradesh Congress Committee president Saifuddin Soz spoke to Mr. Abdullah and urged him not to resign on a mere accusation.

Even as the Congress leadership tried to work on the Chief Minister through his father, Farooq Abdullah, events overtook them as Mr. Omar Abdullah submitted his “carefully worded” resignation to the Governor.

Since the legislature parties of both the Congress and the National Conference had met and re-elected Mr. Abdullah as their leader, no jostling is expected for the post of Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Mr. Soz has decided to head for Srinagar.

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