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| Differences crop up in Cong over alliance with NC | | |  Sandeep Bhat
Early Times Report
Jammu, Oct 13: Serious differences have reportedly surfaced within the Jammu and Kashmir Congress over whether to continue its alliance with the ruling National Conference (NC), with senior leaders openly disagreeing on the future of the coalition that has governed the Union Territory since October 2024.
According to party insiders, the internal discord came to light during a recent core committee meeting held on Sunday to review the Congress’s strategy ahead of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. While one faction of the party pressed for an immediate and public announcement to end all ties with the National Conference, another group cautioned that a hasty withdrawal could politically benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly in the contest for the third seat notified under the latest Rajya Sabha schedule.
“A section of our senior leaders feel that remaining in this alliance serves no purpose now. The NC leadership has been sidelining Congress ministers and humiliating party functionaries since the formation of the government,” a senior Congress leader said, requesting anonymity.
Sources said that the pro-separation camp accused the National Conference of marginalizing Congress representation in governance, ignoring its inputs in administrative decisions, and taking unilateral positions on key policy matters. The leaders reportedly argued that the NC’s actions have eroded the Congress’s credibility among its cadre and supporters.
“The National Conference has managed to secure a working majority with the support of a few Independents and has been treating Congress more as a junior partner than an ally,” another insider disclosed.
However, leaders in the pro-alliance faction countered that any public split at this juncture would fragment the opposition space and pave the way for the BJP to gain an edge in the Rajya Sabha polls. They argued that maintaining a strategic alliance—at least until the elections are over—would prevent division of secular votes and help retain political balance in Jammu and Kashmir’s evolving landscape.
The Congress-NC coalition, formed after prolonged negotiations in October 2024, has witnessed intermittent tensions over power-sharing, coordination in policymaking, and seat-sharing for legislative and parliamentary elections.
Congress leaders from both Jammu and Kashmir divisions have privately expressed frustration over what they describe as “unequal partnership” and “disrespectful behavior” from sections of the National Conference leadership.
Party sources confirmed that several senior Congress functionaries have urged the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to review the arrangement and issue a clear directive on the party’s future strategy in the Union Territory.
“The situation is delicate. A wrong move could weaken Congress’s presence in J&K, but remaining silent in the face of humiliation is equally unacceptable,” said a senior leader familiar with the internal deliberations.
With the Rajya Sabha elections approaching and political equations rapidly shifting, the Congress high command is expected to consult senior J&K leaders before taking a final call on whether to continue or end the alliance.
Party observers say the issue has the potential to reshape the political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir once again, as both the National Conference and the Congress weigh their options in the face of increasing pressure from local leaders and evolving regional dynamics. |
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