National Conference to go solo in all three Kashmir Valley Lok Sabha seats

Naseer Ganai

Srinagar, March 5

Without waiting for the INDIA bloc’s decision, the National Conference (NC) today said it would contest all three Lok Sabha seats in Kashmir on its own. It also stated that discussions were underway with the Congress to finalise the allocation of seats in Jammu and Ladakh regions.

“We have decided to contest the three seats of Kashmir on our own. Negotiations are ongoing with the Congress for the remaining three seats, including Ladakh,” NC’s Kashmir provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani said.

He disclosed it after a long meeting of the NC parliamentary board which was chaired by NC president Farooq Abdullah and vice-president Omar Abdullah. Senior Congress leader GN Monga said the NC’s decision would not impact the INDIA bloc. He said the final decision would be only of the INDIA bloc.

Observers perceive the NC’s move as a demonstration of equidistance from INDIA group, while also keeping avenues open for further negotiations with the Congress. By exerting pressure on the Congress to concede three Kashmir seats, this move serves dual purposes. It not only signals to the BJP that the NC is not leaning towards the INDIA bloc, it also enables the NC to exert its position as the only dominant regional party in J&K.

J&K comprises five parliamentary constituencies. In 2022, the Delimitation Commission redefined the electoral boundaries by treating the entire J&K region as a unified entity.

Holds talks with Cong for Jammu seats

• The NC says it is holding talks with the Congress to finalise the allocation of seats in Jammu and Ladakh regions.
• The decision on Kashmir seats was taken during a party meeting, chaired by Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah.

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