SRINAGAR: National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah announced Thursday that his party and Congress have finalised an alliance for the three-phase J&K assembly elections from September 8 to Oct 1. The decision followed discussions with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, who are on a two-day visit to the region.
Abdullah confirmed that the alliance, which includes CPM, will contest all 90 assembly seats.“Paperwork to be finalised by Thursday night. We will work together and fight the elections,” he said and signalled openness to further collaborations: “No doors are closed for anyone.”
Abdullah expressed optimism about the restoration of J&K’s statehood, which was lost after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the bifurcation of the region into two Union territories, including Ladakh.
For their part, Kharge and Rahul echoed Abdullah’s sentiments. “Our priority in Congress and also in INDIA bloc is to restore J&K’s statehood as soon as possible,” Rahul reaffirmed, addressing Congress workers in Srinagar.
Rahul said while Congress had hoped for statehood before elections, the announcement of polls was still a “positive step towards restoring democracy”. “I have heard and seen Union territories being converted into states, but J&K is an exception. J&K is the first state that was downgraded to Union territory despite being a state,” he said.
He reiterated Congress’s commitment: “We have made it clear in our election manifesto that it was our priority to restore the democratic rights of people of J&K and Ladakh. My message to people of J&K is in whatever manner we can help them, we are ready.”
Rahul took a swipe at PM Narendra Modi, suggesting that INDIA bloc’s efforts in the recent Lok Sabha polls have unsettled him. “You can’t see PM Modi opening his chest any more. Our ideology and strength paved the way for us. We didn’t resort to violence or unparliamentary language but succeeded in conveying a message to PM Modi that he is not what he feels,” he said.
Kharge criticised BJP, saying its claims of reducing terrorism in J&K after the removal of Article 370 have not materialised, citing a spike in terrorism in the region. “The party announced polls under pressure in the wake of Supreme Court directions… Tall claims of BJP that terrorism has been wiped out in J&K have fallen flat,” he said.
Abdullah confirmed that the alliance, which includes CPM, will contest all 90 assembly seats.“Paperwork to be finalised by Thursday night. We will work together and fight the elections,” he said and signalled openness to further collaborations: “No doors are closed for anyone.”
Abdullah expressed optimism about the restoration of J&K’s statehood, which was lost after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 and the bifurcation of the region into two Union territories, including Ladakh.
For their part, Kharge and Rahul echoed Abdullah’s sentiments. “Our priority in Congress and also in INDIA bloc is to restore J&K’s statehood as soon as possible,” Rahul reaffirmed, addressing Congress workers in Srinagar.
Rahul said while Congress had hoped for statehood before elections, the announcement of polls was still a “positive step towards restoring democracy”. “I have heard and seen Union territories being converted into states, but J&K is an exception. J&K is the first state that was downgraded to Union territory despite being a state,” he said.
He reiterated Congress’s commitment: “We have made it clear in our election manifesto that it was our priority to restore the democratic rights of people of J&K and Ladakh. My message to people of J&K is in whatever manner we can help them, we are ready.”
Rahul took a swipe at PM Narendra Modi, suggesting that INDIA bloc’s efforts in the recent Lok Sabha polls have unsettled him. “You can’t see PM Modi opening his chest any more. Our ideology and strength paved the way for us. We didn’t resort to violence or unparliamentary language but succeeded in conveying a message to PM Modi that he is not what he feels,” he said.
Kharge criticised BJP, saying its claims of reducing terrorism in J&K after the removal of Article 370 have not materialised, citing a spike in terrorism in the region. “The party announced polls under pressure in the wake of Supreme Court directions… Tall claims of BJP that terrorism has been wiped out in J&K have fallen flat,” he said.