Congress Criticizes NC for Sidestepping Allies Ahead of J&K Rajya Sabha Polls
NC's solo candidate picks spark alliance tension.
In a sharp rebuke that has exposed cracks in the opposition alliance in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir criticized the National Conference (NC) for failing to consult allied parties before finalizing candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections. Speaking to reporters in Anantnag, Mir, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary, stressed that the NC, as the leading partner in the alliance, should have engaged like-minded parties to ensure a unified strategy for the polls scheduled for October 24.
The biennial elections aim to fill four Rajya Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir, vacant since 2021, following the end of terms for former members, including Ghulam Nabi Azad and Nazir Ahmed Laway on February 15, and Fayaz Ahmed Mir and Shamsheer Singh Manhas on February 10. Mir expressed confidence that none of the 60 non-BJP MLAs in the 88-member Jammu and Kashmir Assembly would support the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidates, citing the party’s internal challenges. “The BJP won’t get even one of those 60 votes,” he asserted, highlighting the opposition’s numerical strength.
However, tensions arose when the NC offered Congress only the fourth Rajya Sabha seat, deemed “unsafe” due to voting dynamics, while securing safer seats for its own candidates. Mir revealed that Congress had sought a winnable seat but received no favorable response from the NC, prompting the party to opt out of fielding a candidate for the fourth seat. “We wanted to contest one of the first three seats, but their offer wasn’t viable,” he explained.
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The discord comes at a critical juncture as Jammu and Kashmir prepares to restore its representation in the Rajya Sabha after a four-year gap. The NC’s unilateral move has sparked concerns about alliance cohesion, with Congress signaling frustration over being sidelined. As the October 24 polls approach, alongside a separate Rajya Sabha bypoll in Punjab triggered by AAP member Sanjeev Arora’s resignation, the opposition’s ability to present a united front remains under scrutiny, potentially impacting their strategy against the BJP in the region.
Also Read: J&K Congress Walks Out of Rajya Sabha Contest Over Denial of ‘Safe Seat’ by NC
