Congress not part of Gupkar Alliance: AICC

New Delhi: The All India Congress Committee on Tuesday insisted that the party was not in alliance with the People's Association for Gupkar Declaration of Jammu and Kashmir but would contest the districts development council polls to expose the BJP. However, the AICC statement was mum on recent statements of J&K Congress leaders that the party was in alliance with PAGD for DDC polls.

“The Congress party is not part of the 'Gupkar Alliance' or People's Association for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD)... The Indian National Congress favors democratic elections in Jammu and Kashmir, and for this purpose the Congress party is contesting the district development council to expose the anti-people face of the BJP in a democratic manner”, AICC spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said in an official statement after home minister Amit Shah alleged that the Congress had entered into an alliance with PAGD.

While AICC statement is aimed at shielding itself against BJP, which is trying to build a narrative against the Congress at the national stage and states, ET had reported AICC was dealing with push from its Kashmir leaders and PAGD for an understanding/alliance even though Jammu Congress leaders, fighting to save the party from a BJP surge, was wary of aligning with PAGD. For the state Congress, there is also pressure of having to win some seats for a futuristic alliance with NC in the next assembly polls.