Congress takes steps to resolve seat-sharing disputes with National Conference

PTC News Desk: As the deadline approaches for finalising candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, the Congress Party has dispatched senior leaders to Srinagar to address and resolve the ongoing seat-sharing disputes with the National Conference (NC). With the last date for filing nominations for the first phase of the polls fast approaching, Congress is keen to finalize their alliance and avoid any last-minute setbacks.

Senior Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Salman Khurshid are scheduled to meet with National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and his son, party vice-president Omar Abdullah, today. The objective is to reconcile differences and finalize the seat-sharing arrangement.

Previously, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had engaged in discussions with the Abdullahs, leading to an agreement for the two parties to contest the elections together. However, disagreements over seat allocation have stalled progress, prompting Congress to send Venugopal and Khurshid to expedite the resolution.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be conducted in three phases, with polling dates set for September 18, September 25, and October 1. The counting of votes is scheduled for October 4. The last assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2014, after which the People's Democratic Party (PDP) formed a government in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2019, the central government abrogated Jammu and Kashmir's special status and reorganized the state into two Union Territories.

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Omar Abdullah mentioned last week that while most of the seat-sharing arrangements with Congress have been settled, discussions are ongoing for the remaining seats. He stated, "Consensus has been reached to a large extent. I can tell you that we have reached an agreement on the majority of the 90 seats." Abdullah acknowledged that disagreements persist on a few seats, with some Congress leaders holding firm on their demands. Efforts are underway to resolve these issues and finalize the candidate list.

Sources indicate that the National Conference has offered Congress five seats in the Kashmir Valley and 28-30 seats in the Jammu region. Congress is seeking additional seats, including some traditional National Conference strongholds. The National Conference has proposed a friendly contest for certain seats claimed by both parties, but this offer has not been accepted by local Congress leaders.

The BJP has criticized Congress's decision to ally with the National Conference for these crucial elections. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has accused Congress of compromising national unity and security for political gain. Shah questioned Congress and Rahul Gandhi’s stance on the National Conference's promises, such as a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. He also raised concerns about the National Conference's engagement with Pakistan and their plans to revive "LoC Trade."

In response, Omar Abdullah defended the National Conference's position, suggesting that Shah's critique focused narrowly on one aspect of the party's manifesto. Abdullah expressed gratitude for the attention brought to their manifesto but criticized the Home Minister for not considering the broader context.

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