Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 29: Central leadership of the Congress stepped in to evolve consensus on constituents of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc in Jammu and Kashmir to avoid division of opposition votes.
Amid repeated statements issued by the National Conference leadership not to leave any Parliamentary seats of Kashmir Valley for the coalition partners, some senior Congress leaders are mediating to bring two regional parties namely the National Conference and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to start dialogue on seat-sharing in Jammu and Kashmir.
Highly placed sources said that some central leaders of the Congress, who have proximity with the National Conference leaders especially party president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, are trying to convince the National Conference to leave the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat for the PDP to avoid a friendly contest among constituents of INDIA bloc in Jammu and Kashmir.
“In case the National Conference Central Cong leadership steps into evolve consensus to avoid division of opposition votes.
Some senior Cong leaders are mediating between NC and PDP to start dialogue on seat-sharing in J&K.
Top Cong leaders are trying to convince the NC to leave Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat for the PDP.
If NC leaves Anantnag-Rajouri seat for the PDP, the Congress will surrender Ladakh seat.
The National Conference leaders have repeatedly asserted that the party will not leave three seats of the Kashmir Valley for the coalition partners at any cost.
While announcing to be inseparable part and parcel of the INDIA bloc to defeat the BJP, Omar Abdullah also declared that his party would not leave three seats of the Kashmir Valley for coalition partners.
“If the INDIA alliance intends to stop the BJP from retaining three Lok Sabha seats of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir then there is no need to hold discussions of three seats of Kashmir Valley”, Omar said recently, adding, “Three seats of Kashmir Valley are already with the INDIA bloc so our discussions should be only on Jammu-Poonch, Udhampur-Doda, and Ladakh Lok Sabha seats”. | 