Kashmir Angle: Trust holds key to alliance stability, Congress tells NC

As Chief Minister Omar Abdullah this month completes one year in office, the ruling National Conference (NC) is witnessing a rift with alliance partner Congress, on the eve of voting for the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir to be held on Friday. With the ruling alliance witnessing tensions for many days, local Congress leaders maintain that the NC should “introspect” and take steps to ensure “trust remains between the alliance partners”.

Congress is the alliance partner of the NC in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Their pre-poll alliance was announced before last year’s Assembly poll. After the NC swept the Assembly polls in the Valley, and formed a government, with support of independents and the Congress, the Congress didn’t join the government, saying it would join the ruling dispensation only if J&K’s statehood was restored.

The alliance, however, is now witnessing tensions over the Raj Sabha elections in the J&K. Of the four seats going to polls tomorrow, the NC recently announced its candidates for the three seats. The NC said it offered the fourth seat to the Congress, but the latter declined to contest the polls.

According to Congress leaders, the NC was sure of winning the three seats. They said there was a “betrayal,” after the NC offered the fourth risky seat to the Congress.

“Trust and respect has to be mutual. Leaders were surprised when they came to know that the NC offered a risky seat to us in the Rajya Sabha elections. This was despite commitments made at the highest levels,” said a Congress leader.

More tension erupted after the Congress declined an offer from the NC to contest for the Nagrota bypoll seat in Jammu. Instead, the Congress assured support to the NC for the Nagrota seat. As compared to the NC, the Congress holds more support in the Jammu region. Ravinder Sharma, chief spokesperson, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) said, “The Congress has always continued its support to the alliance partner NC. However, fissures have developed in the alliance because of the NC actions.”

“We are not in the alliance for the sake of power or any chair. Mistrust happened after a commitment was made at the highest level regarding the Rajya Sabha polls as it was not fulfilled. We were offered a risky seat in the Rajya Sabha elections.”

He said the future depends on the National Conference. “We are junior partners in the J&K coalition government. But, the NC must realise that we are a stability factor in their government, despite the fact that they have more legislators in the Assembly,” he said.

He said even offering the Congress a seat was not respectful.

As the Assembly session began in Srinagar on Thursday, a day earlier the Congress had opted to stay away from a meeting called by the NC to discuss the Rajya Sabha poll strategy and the Legislative Assembly session proceedings.

Leaders of the NC in the Valley, however, maintained that all was well within the alliance. They said all communication channels of the NC were open for its alliance partners.