Congress favours fresh Jammu and Kashmir polls

The Congress party has favoured fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir after the PDP-BJP alliance failed to formed a government despite sereral rounds of negotiations.

Congress strategists have rejected suggestions of propping up a non-BJP alternative contending that the mandate was for the PDP and the BJP to form the government.

Congress leaders from the state are expected to meet party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday to assess the political situation in the state.

Stable govt
"The mandate for us was to sit in the opposition. It is the duty of the BJP and the PDP to give a stable government," a top Congress leader said.

The state plunged into political chaos after the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed last month. His daughter and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti was tipped to take over, but is having second thoughts after gauging the mood against the government.

Meanwhile, the state has been placed under President’s Rule even as the BJP and the PDP make efforts to reach a fresh understanding on government formation.

Congress leaders believe that if elections were held now, it can win comfortably in alliance with the National Conference.

In the Assembly elections held last year, the Congress had won 12 seats in the 87-member House, while National Conference got 15.

The PDP emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats with BJP coming a close second with 25 seats.
DH News Service