National Conference, Congress to fight ‘90 Seats’ in J-K assembly polls together: Farooq Abdullah

The National Conference (NC) and Congress have officially announced their alliance for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections. The declaration came from NC patron Farooq Abdullah in Srinagar on Thursday, following his meetings with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.

Alliance to Contest 90 Seats

Farooq Abdullah confirmed that the alliance would contest all 90 seats in the assembly, with details of the seat-sharing arrangement to be revealed later in the evening. “People have endured immense suffering over the past decade. Statehood remains our primary concern, and we are committed to restoring all powers of the state. Our united goal is to combat divisive forces, and I am genuinely heartened by this collaboration,” Abdullah stated.

Rahul Gandhi’s Commitment to Democratic Rights

Rahul Gandhi reiterated his commitment to restoring Jammu and Kashmir's statehood, emphasizing that it is a priority for both the Congress Party and the broader INDIA alliance. Speaking at a press conference in Srinagar, Gandhi expressed disappointment that statehood was not restored before the election announcement but remained optimistic that it would be reinstated promptly. “This is the first time in India’s history that a state has been reduced to a Union Territory. We are determined to ensure that the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are restored,” he affirmed.

जम्मू-कश्मीर के साथ मेरा खून का रिश्ता है - वहां के लोगों के दिलों में जो दुख-दर्द है, उसे मिटा कर उन्हें उनका statehood और representation वापस दिलाना ही मेरा सबसे बड़ा लक्ष्य है। pic.twitter.com/iBFDwwJxn0

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 22, 2024

Kharge’s Critique of the BJP Government

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the BJP-led central government, accusing it of failing to fulfill its promises to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our party, under Rahulji’s leadership, is committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The democratic framework has been dismantled, with no functioning council, assembly, panchayat, or municipality. Despite BJP’s efforts, they cannot silence the voice of the people. We stand with them and will strive to meet their aspirations,” Kharge declared.

Meanwhile, it is important to note that this is going to be a historic election. 

This assembly election marks the first since the abrogation of Article 370. The elections will be conducted in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the Election Commission having already issued notifications for the first phase.