The National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on February 15 ruled out any pre-poll alliance for the Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir. However, his son Omar Abdullah said his party was not leaving the INDIA bloc and was open to talks.
In an unanticipated announcement, Dr. Abdullah said his party will contest on its own strength in J&K. “I want to make it clear that the NC is not going to enter into any alliance before the polls and will contest independently,” Dr. Abdullah said.
The NC leader’s statement came just four days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a fresh summon to Dr. Abdullah in an alleged misappropriation of funds in the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) during his term as its president.
Dr. Abdullah said the talks within the INDIA alliance have “failed to achieve anything positive till date”.
On returning to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, Dr. Abdullah said, “Every political party keeps its window open. We have to strengthen the country and every section of society... Prime Minister Narendra Modi is doing his job.”
Rift between NC and PDP?
It’s for the first time that the NC has hardened its position on not being ready to share seating with INDIA partners in J&K, especially ally Mehbooba Mufti’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Sources said the PDP has been demanding its share of seats in the Kashmir valley to NC’s chagrin. J&K and Ladakh have six Lok Sabha seats.
Reacting to Dr. Abdullah’s remarks, PDP spokesman Suhail Bukhari said, “J&K is facing attack on democratic institutions, its constitution and identity. It’s incumbent upon the political parties to unite to end this era of repression. We are for unity. We may have political differences but for people’s aspirations, there is a need to shelve party interests. In the larger public interest, we will continue our efforts for unity.”
No formal discussion on seat-sharing yet: Omar
Meanwhile, Dr. Abdullah’s son and NC vice president Omar Abdullah ruled out leaving the INDIA bloc after the former’s statement.
“NC was a member of the INDIA alliance and we continue to be a member. The seats that will be discussed are those that are held with BJP, we are firm on that position. What Party chief Farooq Abdullah said was a reflection of what the party cadre feels,” Mr. Abdullah said.
He said the NC would like to fight elections on all seats “but the truth is that sometimes for a bigger objective, small sacrifices have to be made”.
He also highlighted there was no “formal discussion with Congress” on seat sharing in J&K. “We are not the sort of a party that has our feet in multiple boats, once we make friends, we stick to those friends,” he added.
