Congress, Abdullahs seal alliance for J&K poll

Srinagar, August 22

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The National Conference (NC) and the Congress on Thursday sealed an alliance for the three-phase Assembly poll in J&K, slated to begin next month.

The parties have finalised their talks on all 90 seats in the UT. The announcement was made by NC president and former J&K Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, shortly after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi met him at his residence. Farooq said talks were held in a cordial atmosphere during which the alliance was finalised by the two parties.

Seat-sharing may pose challenge

• Sources said in the proposed seat-sharing deal, the Congress had asked for more than 10 seats in Kashmir, which it was unlikely to get.
• Asked about the possibility of the PDP joining the INDIA bloc, NC leader Farooq Abdullah said, “Let us first go through the poll, we will look into these things later.”
• CPM leader Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, who is also with the alliance, said he was trying to bring other like-minded parties on board

Kharge and Rahul had arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday to talk to party workers and also hold talks on forming an alliance.

J&K Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra had stated that the NC had “approached the party’s central leadership for an alliance”.

Addressing the media here, Farooq said they were hopeful that people would support the alliance. He said seat-sharing would be announced in a phased manner, adding that restoration of statehood was important for J&K.

Sources said in the proposed seat-sharing deal, the Congress had asked for more than 10 seats in Kashmir, which it was unlikely to get.

Meanwhile, Rahul, while addressing party workers in Srinagar this morning, said he and Kharge had told the J&K Congress president that the party would go in for an alliance, but at the same time ensure that “the Congress workers and leaders are given due respect”. Kharge said they would work on the advice of local party leaders.

On the possibility of the PDP joining the bloc, Farooq said, “Let us first go through the poll, we will look into these things later.” “The doors are not closed for anybody,” he said, adding that CPM leader Mohd Yusuf Tarigami was also with the alliance.