Srinagar, August 22: After Rahul Gandhi visited Farooq Abdullah’s home in Srinagar today, the Congress and National Conference finalized their alliance ahead of Jammu & Kashmir legislative elections. According to sources, there are still issues with seat-sharing, but the leaders of the two parties have asked negotiators to find a solution that benefits them both.
Farooq Abdullah confirms alliance with Congress in Jammu & Kashmir (file photo)
In Jammu & Kashmir, the NC and Congress are forming a pre-poll coalition for the first time since 1987.
“Our meeting went well and in a friendly manner. God willing, the alliance is moving forward, and everything will go smoothly. The partnership is final. The alliance is on all 90 seats, and it will be signed this evening, according to Farooq Abdullah.
The declaration followed an hour-long discussion between opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , and Omar & Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar.
The conference sent a clear message: the top leadership of both parties planned to contest the assembly elections together, despite their significant disagreements over the seat-sharing system.
“There will be an alliance, Kharge Ji and I have informed Karra sahib (Tariq Karra, president of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee). However, respect to Congressmen and Congress officials must be upheld “Mr. Gandhi stated.
Three rounds of seat-sharing talks have already taken place between the two parties, and the most recent one concluded bitterly late last night as each side firmly established the number of seats they wished to challenge, according to the sources.
They further mentioned that the notion of friendly competition on some seats claimed by both parties was discussed during their meeting with Rahul Gandhi today.
RAHUL GANDHI’S PROMISE TO J&K citizens
Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of the erstwhile state’s statehood appears to be central to his poll promise.
You know deep down that you want to become a state. This is the message we came to deliver: we want you to manage your state the way you want to” he declared.
In 2019, removal of Article 370 resulted in the region losing both its special status and its statehood.
Farooq Abdullah, a leader of NC, supported Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, saying, “People have suffered much in the last 10 years.” For us, statehood is the main priority. We also desire complete state power. Our shared agenda is to combat polarizing influences. We welcome everyone, but let’s start by winning the election. Today, my heart is happy.”
The Congress-NC coalition received 41.7 percent of the vote in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections in Jammu & Kashmir, whereas the BJP and PDP, two previous allies, received 17 and 8 percent of the vote, respectively.
The three phases of assembly elections for Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, 25, and October 1. On October 4, the results will be made public. Since Article 370 was repealed, Jammu and Kashmir is holding its first legislative election.
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