The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday accused the Congress of functioning as a "puppet" of the ruling National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir, with key decisions allegedly being orchestrated in the "kitchen of the Abdullahs". The sharp criticism came from BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, amid the ongoing byelections for four Rajya Sabha seats. Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Sharma claimed the Congress lacks independence, asserting that its support for the NC was "expected" and pre-approved from Delhi. The remarks highlight deepening political fault lines as alliances shift ahead of the polls, which began Friday and are crucial for representation in the Upper House.

Sharma's salvo followed the Congress's announcement on Thursday to back the NC, setting aside ideological differences to form a united front against the BJP's "agenda of atrocities and subjugation". In a party statement, Congress emphasised prioritising "paramount challenges" over discord, signalling a tactical realignment in the fragile post-Article 370 landscape. The LoP lambasted this move as evidence of Congress's subservience, quipping that local office-bearers merely execute directives from the influential Abdullah family—headed by NC president Farooq Abdullah and his son, Omar Abdullah.

Turning to the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sharma alleged that the NC-PDP joint front exemplifies dynastic control, preventing "a common man" from accessing power. He accused both families of colluding whenever their interests are threatened, labelling their strategy as "clever" in the current electoral calculus.

The Rajya Sabha byelections stem from vacancies created by the biennial retirement of four members, with the NC-Congress-PDP alliance poised to secure three seats based on legislative strength in the 90-member J&K Assembly. The BJP, holding 29 seats, eyes one uncontested slot from Jammu but faces an uphill battle elsewhere. Political observers note that abstentions or cross-voting could tip the scales, though Sharma cryptically remarked, "You decide who will benefit—we will achieve our aim." This comes against the backdrop of J&K's first assembly elections since the 2019 abrogation of special status, where regional parties dominated with 51 seats collectively, relegating the BJP to a strong opposition role.

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The controversy underscores persistent tensions in J&K's polarised politics, where family legacies like the Abdullahs' and Muftis' clash with the BJP's integrationist push. Congress's overture to the NC revives memories of past coalitions, including the 2024 government formation led by Omar Abdullah. As voting concludes, the outcome could bolster the opposition's parliamentary voice, amplifying calls for statehood restoration and dialogue on regional grievances. With national implications for the INDIA bloc's cohesion, Sharma's rhetoric aims to rally BJP cadres while exposing perceived hypocrisies in the rival camp's unity.

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