Congress-NC pact: Allies in 3 seats and rivals in 2
Sanjay Khajuria, M Saleem Pandit | TNN | Mar 21, 2019, 05:50 IST
File photo of Farooq Abdullah.JAMMU/SRINAGAR: The National Conference and Congress have reached a unique pact for the Lok Sabha polls, with NC contesting Srinagar, Congress contesting Jammu and Udhampur, and a “friendly contest” to unfold in Baramulla and Anantnag. The remaining Ladakh seat is still under discussion.
Jammu and Kashmir, which has six parliamentary constituencies, will vote in five phases, on April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6.
“The NC-Congress alliance has been forged to make the secular front stronger,” former chief minister and NC chairperson Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday. “The party (NC) will not field its candidates in Jammu and Udhampur seats to ensure the secular votes are not divided. Congress will contest from these two seats and I will contest from Srinagar.”
Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the friendly face-off in two seats “means there will be no cut-throat contest”. He added, “The alliance has been finalised in national interest and will strengthen secular forces in J&K as the state faces threat from Pakistan. Live and let live. Whether Congress wins or National Conference does, it is a win-win for both.”
Azad said given Farooq Abdullah’s “stature”, Congress would not field a contestant in Srinagar; all Congress leaders would campaign for him.
NC and Congress have a long history of alliances. In 1965, NC merged with Congress and became the party’s J&K branch. Thereafter, NC separated and aligned with Congress in 1987 and 2008 as well. Both parties fought the 2014 elections together but failed to win a single seat. BJP won both seats in the Jammu region and one in Ladakh while PDP won all three constituencies in Kashmir.
NC has nominated retired HC judge Hasnain Masoodi as the candidate for the Anantnag-Pulwama parliamentary seat. The 65-year-old former judge is serving as chairman of selection-cumoversight committee under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Sources said Congress is likely to field Kargil MLA Asgar Ali Karbalai or Rigzin Spalbar, chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, from Ladakh. It is considering Vikramaditya Singh, son of Karan Singh, from Udhampur.
Jammu and Kashmir, which has six parliamentary constituencies, will vote in five phases, on April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6.
“The NC-Congress alliance has been forged to make the secular front stronger,” former chief minister and NC chairperson Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday. “The party (NC) will not field its candidates in Jammu and Udhampur seats to ensure the secular votes are not divided. Congress will contest from these two seats and I will contest from Srinagar.”
Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad said the friendly face-off in two seats “means there will be no cut-throat contest”. He added, “The alliance has been finalised in national interest and will strengthen secular forces in J&K as the state faces threat from Pakistan. Live and let live. Whether Congress wins or National Conference does, it is a win-win for both.”
Azad said given Farooq Abdullah’s “stature”, Congress would not field a contestant in Srinagar; all Congress leaders would campaign for him.
NC and Congress have a long history of alliances. In 1965, NC merged with Congress and became the party’s J&K branch. Thereafter, NC separated and aligned with Congress in 1987 and 2008 as well. Both parties fought the 2014 elections together but failed to win a single seat. BJP won both seats in the Jammu region and one in Ladakh while PDP won all three constituencies in Kashmir.
NC has nominated retired HC judge Hasnain Masoodi as the candidate for the Anantnag-Pulwama parliamentary seat. The 65-year-old former judge is serving as chairman of selection-cumoversight committee under the Juvenile Justice Act.
Sources said Congress is likely to field Kargil MLA Asgar Ali Karbalai or Rigzin Spalbar, chief executive councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, from Ladakh. It is considering Vikramaditya Singh, son of Karan Singh, from Udhampur.
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