Ghulam Ahmed Mir takes over as J&K Congress chief; Vows to forge unity

JAMMU: Newly-appointed Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Ghulam Ahmed Mir today vowed to forge unity and strength among cadre, who were hit by the party's recent Assembly poll debacle.

55-year-old Mir today arrived from New Delhi and was given rousing reception by the party workers and leaders, who drew him in large cavalcade of vehicles to the party headquarters at Residency road here.

He took over from Saifuddin Soz at a party function at the party's headquarters amid pro-Mir slogans and showering of flowers.

"He is young man, who has potential to take the state Congress to new heights. He is a strong leader and committed to the welfare of the people of the state. I wish him best of luck," Soz said at the function.

Thanking the Congress leadership particularly president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi, and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mir said "they have entrusted with this tough task and reposed faith in me. I will try to work for the betterment of the Congress and come up to their expectation," Mir told Congress workers here.

Asserting that Congress rank and file has been hit temporarily due to the recent poll results, he said it would be his task to recharge the moral of the Congress leaders and workers.

"The party would be galvanised from grassroots level and programme for rejuvenating the party in the state would be charted down to strengthen the party," he said.

Congress yesterday appointed five new PCC chiefs and one regional Congress Committee president.