National Conference, Congress to form alliance for J&K Assembly polls
National Conference (NC) leader Farooq Abdullah has announced that his party will form an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. This was confirmed after a late-night meeting between leaders from both parties in Srinagar. The primary focus of their discussions was on seat distribution, although no final decision has been made yet.
Seat-sharing talks between NC and Congress underway
The Congress has expressed its intention to contest 12 seats in the Kashmir Valley, while proposing an equal number of seats for the NC in Jammu division. However, these negotiations are still ongoing with another round of talks expected to finalize the agreement. This alliance could significantly influence the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir in the upcoming elections.
J&K Assembly polls to be held in three phases
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results are expected to be declared on October 4. This announcement has sparked a surge of political activity in the region after a six-year hiatus, with the last significant political event being the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress leaders visit J&K ahead of assembly polls
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi are on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess their party's readiness for the upcoming assembly elections. They also explored potential alliances with regional parties, including the National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP). The NC has emphasized that reinstating special status to Jammu and Kashmir is a key issue in their election manifesto.
BJP to contest J&K Assembly polls independently
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party is recalibrating its strategy after its allies underperformed in Kashmir during the Lok Sabha elections. The party's attempts to form alliances with regional parties like Apni Party and People's Conference have not been successful, leading it to decide to contest the upcoming elections independently. It remains uncertain whether the party will field candidates in Kashmir or adopt a similar approach as in the Lok Sabha elections.
