Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 19: Congress high command will take the decision on the party’s relations with the ruling National Conference after completion of the Delhi Assembly polls.
Highly placed sources said that during his recent visit to the union capital the Pradesh Congress Committee chief Tariq Hameed Karra has sounded the central leadership about the opinion of the majority of the party leaders who want to come out of the “alliance”.
Sources said that the central leadership of the Congress will not make any hasty decision because the party will assess all the pros and cons of the taking this decision.
Notably, Congress entered into a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by ignoring the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
Although the PDP is part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc, the Congress preferred the NC in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
While the party failed to win any seat in the Lok Sabha elections despite having an alliance with the NC, the party won six seats in the Assembly elections due to its coalition wit During his recent visit to New Delhi JKPCC chief has informed the central leadership that the majority of the leaders want to end the “alliance”.
The central leadership will not take any hasty decision as the party will assess all the pros and cons first.
Congress had entered into a pre-poll alliance with the NC just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by ignoring the PDP.
Although the PDP is part of the INDIA bloc, the Congress preferred the NC in the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
After getting 42 assembly seats in the house of 90 members, the NC managed to muster a majority with the support of Independent MLAs by ignoring the coalition partner Congress.
As reported earlier, the Congress is facing rising internal dissent over its alliance with the National Conference (NC), with leaders like former J&K Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani urging an end to the coalition. Wani, who lost the Banihal Assembly seat in the 2024 elections, accused the NC of undermining Congress through tactics such as fielding proxy candidates and disrupting coordination in traditional Congress strongholds like the Chenab region and border districts.
Incidents like the defeat of Congress candidates in Thanamandi and Surankote by rebel NC nominees have intensified calls to reassess the alliance. Many Congress leaders believe the partnership is harming the party’s reputation and electoral prospects, putting pressure on the high command to take decisive action.
This internal strife highlights the fragile dynamics of political coalitions in Jammu and Kashmir, with potential implications for the region’s political future. | 