Congress is considering quitting its alliance with the National Conference (NC) IN Jammu and Kashmir, following the NC’s snub over the Rajya Sabha seat, for which elections are scheduled for October 24.
Senior Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Ghulam Nabi Monga, told reporters that everyone from New Delhi to Srinagar was unhappy with the way the National Conference ignored Congress in the Rajya Sabha seat-sharing issue. He said, “We will have to think and reflect on the ongoing alliance with the ruling dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir.”
He said that the JKPCC has sent a letter about this development to the Congress high command in New Delhi. “It may take a while, but discussions are being held,” he added. As per inside sources, Congress’s high command is particularly displeased with NC President Farooq Abdullah for retracting on his promise of a safe seat to Congress.
After the party’s rejection of contesting the fourth and risky seat, NC announced it would contest alone on all four seats, where a win on two is confirmed, while one remains a contest to be decided by the independents.
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Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the move, saying, “We believed the Congress had a better chance on the fourth seat. They thought otherwise. So be it.” There are reports that several leaders of the smaller parties in Jammu and Kashmir might rejoin the Congress in the coming days, strengthening the party’s cadre in the coming days.
Congress has been making efforts in the UT to regain what once used to be its stronghold from the early 90’s to 2010, before the mass non-violent uprisings. Currently, the NC has adequate figures to last even if Congress withdraws.
It has 41 members in the 88-member assembly (with two vacancies) and relies on allied independents and friendly small parties.
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