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Options open in J&K: Congress

Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR: With the results of the Jammu and Kashmir elections throwing up a split verdict, the Congress party said on Sunday the option for forming an alliance with the National Conference was open, sources said.

Senior Congress leader Bashir Ahmad Magray said the State unit of party would apprise the central leadership about its views on the issue. “But the ultimate decision has to be taken by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and others,” he said.

Mr. Magray said the Congress always worked for the development and prosperity of the State and would continue to do so. “The stability of the State is our priority,” he added. The sources said Union Minister and PCC chief Saifuddin Soz and the former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, would rush to Delhi on Monday for consultations with the central leadership. Mr. Azad told reporters in Jammu that the Congress held the key to the formation of a government.

People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti also did rule out a possible coalition with the Congress. Nothing is, however, known about the smaller parties’ stand.

But all the three key players — the NC, the PDP and the Congress — have made it clear that they would not join the hands with BJP.

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