The ghost of infamous sex scandal and corruption is back to haunt the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir. Surely, it has returned at a time when the party was trying to win over the people by presenting a rosy picture of development, peace, progress and stability in the state. As a matter of fact the resurfacing of 2006 scandal involving ministers, senior bureaucrats and police officials and linking of two senior leaders to it by one of the Congress MP's is likely to have a serious fallout on the party's future political stakes in the state. Amazingly, the Congress leaders instead of introspecting their own weaknesses miss no opportunity to blame the National Conference and other parties for all ills in the state. This is notwithstanding the fact, that instead of setting its house in order the Congress leaders are busy in finding faults with others. Azad's uninterrupted digs at leaders of National Conference and other political parties amply demonstrate their point.

It is not mere calloquy but a fact that Congress is not a coherent unit but a divided house in J and K. There are two main factions within Congress: pro-Azad and pro-Mangat Ram Sharma. Now one more group headed by Saifudin Soz is propping up to further divide the party. This group is working in tandem to weaken the other two factions by poisoning the ears of the High Command. Amidst the allegations of infighting, corruption and political rivalries, the party received a severe jolt when one of its senior leaders Madan Lal Sharma levelled serious allegations against the two party leaders. Congress MP from Jammu Madan Lal Sharma, while addressing a rally in (Khor) Jammu last week accused Speaker Tara Chand and former state Congress Chief Peerzada Sayeed of their involvement in the infamous sex scandal that rocked the state in 2006. The MP added that he had discussed the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. Needless to say, the revelation has heaped more embarrassment on the party leaders who are all the time bragging of believing in transparent governance.

Fuel to the fire was added by Dr. Abdullah who threatened to boycott the legislature session if speaker Legislative Assembly Tara Chand did not explain his position regarding his alleged involvement in the sex scandal.

There is no doubt that allegations against these leaders were levelled earlier also but this was for the first time that a senior leader of the party has openly blamed the two senior leaders for their involvement in the sex racket. Sometime back, the opposition had stalled the Assembly for many days pressing for the resignation of Mr Peerzada for taking a bribe of Rs 40,000 from Shaoiab Lone's mother. Shoiab is the sitting MLA and son of the former minister Ghulam Nabi Lone who was assassinated in Srinagar in 2005. But it was due to the solid support from Mr Azad that Mr Peerzada survived the opposition onslaught at that time.Peerzada being a heavyweight Congress leader and an Azad loyalist escaped the resignation demand on many occasions. But, ultimately he had to step down as the lawmakers and leaders within the party stepped up pressure on the Congress high command for his scalp. The resignation brought to the fore that all was not well in the JKPCC.

Undeniably, apart from corruption, regionalism and communalism, the state Congress is afflicted by rivalry among its leaders. In the valley it has no political hold. Its presence in valley is just nominal. In Jammu province, however, it has sufficient political strength, despite it being Hindu dominated. On the whole, Pradesh Congress is very weak in the state. But with the resurfacing of the sex scam the party is likely to suffer more political setbacks. The fact remains that Ghulam Nabi Azad was deputed by the Congress leadership to strengthen party in the state, but he has not been able to revive the Pradesh Congress and get it rid of corrupt and debaush leaders. With his failure to check rivalry and infighting the central leadership seems to be now worried about the forthcoming elections and revival of its fortunes.

It was with an eye on the upcoming elections that the party has replaced Peerzada by Mr Saifudin Soz, Union minister for Water Resources. It is another matter that Mr Soz joined Congress party only five years back after a long stint in National Conference. He was one of the senior leaders of National Conference and its two time MP from Baramulla constituency. The move was aimed to strengthen the Congress in J and K state at a crucial time when the party is facing corruption and other serious allegations against some of its top leaders. There were allegations of "loot" of forest resources against the Chief Minister and his brothers also but the court has exonerated Mr Azad and others recently as no prima facie evidence was found against them. The court order has proved a great respite for Azad as well as the Congress at a time when it needed it most.

At this point of time JKPCC needs overhauling and inclusion of new faces. In addition to that the party must show the door to the leaders against whom there are serious allegations of corruption and misdemeanour. The party also needs to work for the betterment of the people rather than making tall promises of providing 70,000 jobs and announcing ethiopian plans. Even bringing in of central leaders to announce huge economic and develop- ment plans for the state is unlikely to bring the party out of its present mess. Apparently, the party is already facing flak from the people of Ladakh and Jammu for neglecting the regions and according step motherly treatment in develo- pment and other projects. Kashmiri Pandits too are unhappy with the Congress for not doing anything substantial for the displaced community. Apart from them Gujjars and Bakerwals-staunch supporters of Congress are also disenchanted with the party for not including them in the most favourable categories. There is no denying the fact that this resentment is likely to cost Congress dearly in the coming elections.

Can Saifudin Soz handle the present crisis arising out of the inflammatory statements of senior leaders against one another? It seems difficult. The fact being that Mr Soz is himself sailing in two boats. He is more busy in running Forests and Water Resources ministry rather than working for the united and viable Congress in J and K.

Besides, he too is in the process of carving out a faction to serve his own political interests. Congress needs a full time President and not any gateway arrangement. There are no two opinions that the corruption and sex scam have affected the Pradesh Congress to the extent that it cannot project itself as a best and viable alternative to the next government. It is a matter of time to see whether the new leadership succeeds in holding the slipping ground or not.