The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, under the leadership of Farooq Abdullah, is set to convene a crucial meeting of its Parliamentary Board to deliberate on the future of its alliance with the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow at 11 AM at the NC Headquarters in Kashmir, with participation expected from leadership representing both the Jammu region and the Kashmir valley.
Ratan Lal Gupta, the NC Provincial President, disclosed that the Parliamentary Board meeting, chaired by NC Chief Farooq Abdullah, aims to address the evolving dynamics of the alliance. Gupta mentioned that discussions are ongoing with alliance partners, spearheaded by Vice-Chief Omar Abdullah, and a decision is anticipated in the coming days. The focus lies on strategizing for the three seats currently held by the BJP, two of which are in Jammu and one in Ladakh, secured in the 2019 elections. Gupta emphasized the need for a coherent strategy to contest these seats effectively.
In tandem with the NC’s deliberations, a senior Congress leader revealed to Republic that discussions regarding the alliance are underway. The Congress High Powered Committee, led by Mukul Wasnik, is slated to meet today, and within the next two to three days, the alliance is expected to be solidified. Once finalized, an extensive campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is set to kickstart. The Congress leader highlighted ongoing campaign efforts in Udhampur and Jammu Lok Sabha seats, affirming the party’s commitment to shifting its vote share to its alliance partners in a bid to uphold democratic principles.
The alliance discussions gained momentum when Congress proposed a seat allocation formula for Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting a distribution of seats among the National Conference, the People’s Democratic Party, and itself. Termed as the “3:2:1” formula, it allocates three seats to the National Conference, one to the People’s Democratic Party, and two to Congress. This proposition, endorsed by the party’s high command, has garnered local leadership’s consensus, although the final decision rests with the central leadership.
As political dynamics continue to evolve in Jammu and Kashmir, all eyes are on the outcomes of the forthcoming Parliamentary Board meeting of the National Conference and the finalization of the alliance arrangement, which holds significant implications for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the region.
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