Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 16: The Jammu and Kashmir Congress is witnessing growing internal discontent over its alliance with the National Conference (NC), with several party leaders advocating for an end to the coalition.
The dissatisfaction surfaced prominently during recent in-house meetings, where the majority of Congress leaders expressed their concerns over the partnership. The issue gained further traction when former J&K Congress Committee chief and ex-minister Vikar Rasool Wani publicly called for the party to sever ties with the NC.
Wani, who contested and lost the Banihal Assembly seat in the 2024 elections following a “friendly contest” with the NC, has openly criticized the alliance.
He claimed that the NC leadership has repeatedly humiliated the Congress on various fronts, including disputes over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the leadership within the INDIA alliance, a coalition of opposition parties at the national level.
Highlighting the betrayal during the Assembly elections, Wani alleged that the NC had undermined the Congress by fielding candidates on almost all seats in the Chenab region, a traditional Congress stronghold.
He further accused the NC of adopting underhanded tactics in the twin border districts o The issue gained further traction when former J&K Congress Committee Chief and ex-minister Vikar Rasool Wani publicly called for the party to sever ties with the NC.
He claimed that the NC leadership has repeatedly humiliated the Congress on various fronts, including disputes over EVMs and the leadership within the INDIA alliance.
Wani alleged that the NC had undermined the Congress by fielding candidates on almost all seats in the Chenab region.
He accused the NC of adopting underhanded tactics in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Citing specific examples, Wani pointed to the Thanamandi and Surankote Assembly seats, where rebel NC candidates emerged victorious, defeating the official nominees of the INDIA alliance. Official INDIA alliance candidates on both seats belonged to the Congress party.
Wani labeled these incidents as clear evidence of the NC's lack of commitment to the coalition and its manipulative approach to secure its dominance, even at the cost of ally losses.
The growing calls for a breakup with the NC reflect broader dissatisfaction within the Congress ranks. Many party leaders believe the alliance is no longer beneficial and is instead causing reputational and electoral harm. Wani's bold stance has amplified these sentiments, placing pressure on the Congress's high command to reassess its strategy in Jammu and Kashmir.
As the Congress grapples with internal debates over the future of the alliance, the episode underscores the fragile dynamics of political coalitions in the region. With the 2024 assembly elections still fresh in memory, the fallout from these tensions could significantly reshape the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir in the coming years. | 