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Congress and National Conference Unite
National Conference, Congress Seal J&K Seat-Sharing Deal
Majority Seats for NC, Congress Secures 32 The National Conference (NC) and Congress have finalized a seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. As per the deal, the NC will contest 51 out of the 90 Assembly seats, while Congress will contest 32 seats. This agreement was confirmed by Tariq Hameed Karra, the Chief of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress unit, who also revealed that two seats would be allocated to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Panthers Party.
Friendly Contest on Five Seats Interestingly, the agreement allows for a “friendly but disciplined contest” on five of the 90 seats. This suggests that while both parties, which are part of the opposition bloc INDIA, have largely ironed out their differences, a few unresolved issues remain. The Congress had initially sought more seats, particularly in areas it considers strongholds, leading to intense negotiations that lasted until the eleventh hour.
First Assembly Election Post Article 370 Abrogation This election will be the first Assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir in over a decade. The last Assembly election, scheduled for 2019, was not held due to the central government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and 35A, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The state was subsequently bifurcated into two union territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
NC and Congress United Against Divisive Forces Farooq Abdullah, the President of the National Conference and a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed his satisfaction with the seat-sharing arrangement. He emphasized that the INDIA alliance, which includes both the NC and Congress, was formed to counter forces that seek to divide and communalize the nation. Abdullah stated, “It is a matter of great happiness that we started this campaign together against forces trying to divide people here.” Congress and National Conference Unite
Congress and NC to Fight Together Congress leader KC Venugopal, who was sent to Srinagar to finalize the seat-sharing arrangement, echoed Farooq Abdullah’s sentiments. Venugopal stated, “We have completed our discussion and reached a formula… we will fight together and we will win the J&K election. The Congress and National Conference are coming together to form the next government.” He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to “destroy the soul of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Challenges in Seat-Sharing Talks The seat-sharing talks between the NC and Congress were not without challenges. Initially, sources indicated that the NC had offered the Congress only five seats in the Kashmir Valley and between 28 and 30 seats in the Jammu region. However, Congress, which perceived certain areas as its strongholds, was holding out for more seats. The negotiations seemed to be faltering until Congress sent senior leaders KC Venugopal and Salman Khurshid to Srinagar to revive the discussions Congress and National Conference Unite.
Alliance Announced After Rahul Gandhi’s Visit The decision to contest the elections together had been hinted at earlier when Congress MP Rahul Gandhi visited Farooq Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar. This is the first time since 1987 that the two parties have entered into a pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. After meeting with Gandhi, Farooq Abdullah had said, “We had a good meeting, in a cordial atmosphere. The alliance is on track and, god willing, it will go smoothly.”
Omar Abdullah Confirms Broad Consensus Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of the National Conference and a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, confirmed last week that a broad agreement had been reached between the two parties. He stated, “Consensus has been reached to a large extent… I can tell you we have reached a consensus on the maximum seats out of the 90.”
Conclusion The NC and Congress have successfully negotiated a seat-sharing agreement, setting the stage for a significant political battle in Jammu and Kashmir. With the alliance solidified, both parties are now focused on the upcoming election, united in their goal to counter divisive forces and restore stability in the region.
