National Conference, Congress reach seat-sharing deal for J-K polls

Srinagar, August 26

The National Conference (NC) and the Congress on Monday agreed to contest 51 and 32 seats respectively for the assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

One seat each has been allotted to the CPI(M) and the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), the allies announced at a joint press conference at NC president Farooq Abdullah's residence here after day-long negotiations.

According to their seat-sharing formula, the NC will contest 51 seats in J-K and the Congress 32.

They said there will be a "friendly contest" on five seats of the Union Territory.

The leaders said the list of seats each party will be contesting, as well as the names of the candidates, will be issued later.

The NC president said the alliance is up for a fight against the powers "who are dividing the people not just in this state, but across the country".

"The INDIA bloc was made with an aim to fight those forces who are trying to create a communal divide in the country. Today, I am happy that the negotiations (over the alliance) have concluded. They took place in a cordial atmosphere," Abdullah said.

AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said the two parties are aiming to protect the "soul" of J-K and the country.

"The BJP is trying to destroy the soul of J-K. Our INDIA alliance aims to save the soul of J-K. That is why the Congress and NC are coming together to form a government in J-K which is totally friendly with the people of J-K," he said.

Venugopal also said the BJP has no moral right to criticise the NC manifesto, as it had earlier done.

"The BJP had an alliance with the NC earlier, they also had an alliance with the PDP. The same old NC is still NC and the same old PDP is still PDP. They had alliances with both the parties with the same programme," he said.

"Every political party has their programme, manifesto and promises. We have our own promises and manifesto. When we will form the government, there will be a common minimum programme," he added.

The politician said the people of J-K have been "cheated" by the BJP.

"We have never seen a state being downgraded to a UT. That is why the people want a BJP-free government in J-K. People are suffering because of their divisive agenda and policies, and unemployment. Their only agenda is to divide the people.

"We believe in unity, in the progress of the people, and employment of the youth," the Congress general secretary said.