Cong, NC ink poll deal in J&K

A clear picture of electoral alliances emerged in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday with coalition partners National Conference and Congress deciding to jointly contest the Lok Sabha polls. 

However, the two parties have failed to reach to an agreement on the Assembly election, due later this year. State Congress spokesperson and MLC Ravinder Gupta confirmed to Deccan Herald that the decision has been taken by the high commands of the two parties.

Sources said as per the pact, out of six Parliament constituencies in the state the two parties will contest from three seats each. The National Conference has already announced its candidates for Annatnag (Mehboob Beg), Srinagar (Farooq Abdullah) and Baramulla (Sharif-ud-Din Shariq) constituencies in Kashmir. After clinching the deal with the NC, the Congress is likely to announce its candidates for Jammu and Udhapmur and Ladakh in a day or two.

“The final decision on the candidates would be taken keeping in mind the electoral strength of the alliance partners and candidates announced by opposition parties who have already named their candidates,” sources added.

The Congress-NC alliance had witnessed turbulent times over the issue of constitution of new administrative units and incorporation of 73 Amendment of Constitution into J&K Panchayati Raj Act. The alliance had reached a point of virtual break-up amid reports of resignation by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the sensitive issues earlier this year.

However, with the latest pact the coalition is back on track.  A senior NC leader said the fate of alliance for the upcoming Assembly polls would depend on the results from the six seats.