A perceptible discord emerged within the INDIA bloc in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly concerning seat allocation, as evidenced by National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah's remarks on Monday. Expressing the party's stance, Abdullah emphasized that the NC remained flexible and unwilling to relinquish seats secured in previous electoral contests.
During a press briefing, Omar Abdullah asserted, "We are open to negotiation, but we cannot compromise on seats won by the National Conference in the past elections. We are not rigid in our approach."
In response to queries regarding potential seat adjustments, Abdullah suggested that if the Congress desired, it could allocate Jammu seats to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), but underscored the NC's commitment to retaining its own electoral turf.
The ongoing discussions with Congress, Abdullah noted, were progressing positively, hinting at an impending announcement regarding seat-sharing arrangements.
This development unfolded after the NC's declaration last week, wherein the party outlined its intention to contest all three Kashmir Valley seats while proposing Congress's candidacy for two Jammu seats. Additionally, a consensus candidate from the NC and Congress alliance was proposed for the Ladakh constituency.
With Jammu and Kashmir comprising five Lok Sabha seats, including two from the Jammu region and one from Ladakh, the NC's strategy aims to consolidate its stronghold in the Kashmir Valley while accommodating coalition partners in other regions.
Meanwhile, Mehbooba Mufti, the chief of the People's Democratic Party, criticized the NC for unilaterally deciding to contest all three Kashmir seats, casting doubts on the unity of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD). This alliance, comprising five political entities, advocates for the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir's special status revoked by the central government in 2019.
In an unexpected turn, Omar Abdullah expressed ambiguity regarding his candidacy in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, affirming his readiness to contest if called upon by the party. Abdullah also addressed broader electoral reform issues, including the need for simultaneous parliamentary and assembly elections and concerns over electoral funding transparency, spotlighting recent legal developments concerning electoral bond disclosures.
