Srinagar:

The Congress and National Conference’s pre-poll alliance was finalised after Rahul Gandhi visited Farooq Abdullah’s residence in Srinagar. Sources said there are still challenges on the seat-sharing but the leadership of both parties have asked negotiators to figure out a formula that works for both parties.

This is the fist time since 1987 when NC and Congress have entered into a pre-poll alliance in Jammu and Kashmir. 

“We had a good meeting, in a cordial atmosphere. The alliance is on track and god willing, it will go smoothly. The alliance is final. It will be signed this evening and the alliance is on all 90 seats,” said Farooq Abdullah.

The announcement came after an hour-long meeting between leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Omar and Farooq Abdullah at their Gupkar home in Srinagar.

The meeting gave out a clear message – despite serious differences over the seat-sharing formula, the top leadership of both parties wanted to fight the assembly elections together.

“Kharge Ji and I have conveyed to Karra sahib (Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president Tariq Karra) that there will be an alliance. But respect of Congress workers and Congress leaders has to be maintained,” said Mr Gandhi.

Both parties have already held three rounds of seat-sharing negotiations and the last one late last night ended on a bitter note as both sides hardened their stand on the number of seats they wanted to contest, the sources said.

During today’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi, the idea of friendly contests on some seats claimed by both sides was also considered, they added.

Rahul Gandhi is on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of the erstwhile state’s statehood appears to be central to his poll promise.

“We want statehood for you, that is in your heart. We want you to run your state the way you want to, this is the message we came to convey,” he said.

The region was stripped of its statehood and special status under Article 370 in 2019.

Backing Rahul Gandhi’s comments, NC patron Farooq Abdullah said, “People have suffered much in the last 10 years. Statehood is the prime concern for us. And we want all the powers of the state. Our common program is to fight divisive forces. Our doors are open for all, let’s first win the election. My heart is happy today.”

Earlier, while speaking exclusively to NDTV, Omar Abdullah said that seat-sharing “brings with it its own challenges”. “Seat sharing brings with it its own challenges, I have 90 candidates. There is a problem of plenty,” he said. He emphasised that even if they work out a seat-sharing deal with the Congress, it “will not be smooth”.

In the recently held Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress-NC alliance had got 41.7 percent votes while former allies, the BJP and PDP, got 17 and eight percent, respectively.

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. This is the first assembly poll in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

Jammu:

National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Friday announced he will lead the party in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, which will be held in three phases from September 18.

He told PTI that he will contest the elections while his son, Omar Abdullah, has opted to refrain from participating until Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is restored.

Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised as Union Territory after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Welcoming the Election Commission’s decision to advance the elections, Farooq Abdullah said, “I thank God for this decision. Earlier, there was speculation about the dates being set between the 20th and 25th, so I am pleased they have been moved up.” The elections will be held on September 18, September 25 and October 1. The results of the polls will be announced on October 4.

With the announcement of the polls, the NC chief expressed hope for the end of central rule in the Union Territory.

Emphasising that the NC was always ready for assembly polls, Farooq Abdullah said, “We were prepared for the parliamentary elections and had requested that the assembly elections be held concurrently, but that did not happen.” He expressed optimism about a high voter turnout in the assembly polls. “People will come out in large numbers to participate in the elections,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said.

Farooq Abdullah called for a level playing field for all political parties in the region as he alleged that the BJP — the ruling party at the Centre — held “disproportionate advantages”.

“The BJP is in power at the Centre and has access to all types of security compared to other parties. The Election Commission must ensure fairness,” he asserted.

When asked whether the NC would contest the elections independently, he said, “As of now, we have decided so. However, we will have thorough discussions within the party before taking a final decision.” He also urged citizens to prepare for the upcoming panchayat, town area and municipality elections, emphasising the importance of establishing a democratic framework.

On the contentious issue of statehood, Farooq Abdullah lamented the downgrading of Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory, saying, “I feel sorry and ashamed of it”.

He challenged the BJP’s leadership by asking how they would feel if their own states were similarly downgraded.

On security concerns, he said while issues have persisted since the 1990s, he believes the current situation has improved compared to the past. “Today, the situation is not as severe. It is better now,” the NC chief said.

In response to the BJP’s claims about forming government in Jammu and Kashmir, he quipped, “May God listen to them. They claimed over 400 seats in the parliamentary elections, but what did they achieve? If the Election Commission had not been there, they would not have secured over 140 seats.” As the NC up for the assembly elections, Farooq Abdullah’s leadership will be pivotal in shaping the party’s strategy and response to the ongoing political landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Jammu:

Three youths were injured in a knife attack incident on Sunday at an election rally of the National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district.

The incident happened when the NC chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah was present at the venue along with the party candidate.

“There was an election rally by NC in Mendhar area of Poonch district today in which NC president, Dr Farooq Abdullah and party candidate for Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, Mian Altaf Ahmad were also present. A fight took place between two groups on the sidelines of the rally in which three youths sustained knife injuries,” said officials.

“The injured youths were shifted to a government medical college hospital in Rajouri town for specialised treatment. Doctors have described the condition of one of the injured identified as Suhail Ahmad of Mendhar as serious. The other two injured youths admitted to the hospital have been identified as Yasir Ahmad and Imran Ahmad,” the officials further said.

These two injured youths — Yasir Ahmad and Imran Ahmad — fled from the hospital. The officials said, “They fled the hospitals for unknown reasons.”

A case has been registered in this incident and police have started an investigation.

“No arrests have been made so far in this incident,” the officials said.

Meanwhile, people started protests against the incident in Mendhar Chowk and authorities were trying to pacify the protesters.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)