Another Jolt To INDIA Bloc, National Conference To Go Solo In LS Polls; Congress Reacts

National Conference President Farooq Abdullah on Thursday announced that his party will contest alone on all seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In yet another setback for the INDIA alliance ahead of the polls, he also hinted that he may re-join the NDA alliance in the future.

While addressing the media on elections in the state and seat sharing, the National Conference Chief said, “I think that elections in both states will be held with the Parliamentary elections. As far as seat sharing is concerned, NC will contest alone and there’s no doubt about it.”

In an exclusive interview with India Today about the upcoming polls, the former J&K Chief Minister didn’t deny the possibility of returning to the NDA alliance.

Congress Reacts to Move

Reacting to Abdullah’s statement, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said, “Talks are going on. Every party has their own limitations. National Conference and PDP have been a part of the INDIA bloc, and will continue to remain so.”

Omar  Abdullah Reacts to NC Party Chief’s Statement

ON NC Chief Farooq Abdullah’s statement that NC will contest the elections alone, Former CM and JKNC Vice President Omar Abdullah said, ” National Conference was a member of INDIA alliance and we continue to be a member of INDIA alliance. On the seat sharing, we have been very clear for the last few months…the seats that will be discussed are those that are held with BJP, we are firm on that position. What Party chief Farooq Abdullah said was a reflection of what the party cadre feels. NC has made no secrets about the fact that they would rather fight elections on all seats, but the truth is that sometimes for a bigger objective, small sacrifices have to be made. If the bigger objective is to win seats back from the BJP…then if it is necessary for NC to enter into seat sharing with Congress, our doors are open. We have not yet had any formal discussion with Congress (on seat sharing), informally some dialogues have taken place…we are not the sort of a party that has our feet in multiple boats, once we make friends, we stick to those friends.”

National Conference And Their Political Associations

The National Conference has been a part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) grouping formed last year and comprises the Congress, AAP, RJD, Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress, DMK, Left parties among others. The AAP and Trinamool Congress have also said they would be going alone in Punjab and West Bengal.

The decision of the National Conference also signals an end to the People’s Alliance on Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), which was formed ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Earlier, the regional grouping had indicated that it will fight elections jointly. While there is no word about holding of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which was downgraded from the state to a Union Territory, the parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held. This would be the first major democratic exercise after the special status of the erstwhile state was abrogated in August 2019.

NC Chief Welcomes PM Modi’s Upcoming Visit

Abdullah welcomed the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jammu and Kashmir next week. “The prime minister is coming, it is a good thing. He is going to announce some projects”.

Farooq Abdullah on SC Ruling on Electoral Bonds

On the Supreme Court ruling on electoral bonds, Abdullah while welcoming the verdict said people have a right to know where the money for political parties is coming from.

“May the Almighty make this happen that the government accepts this (verdict) and the political parties follow this direction to declare how much money they got and from where they got it. “People should know where the money power is coming from. It is necessary. I hope it happens before the general election,” Abdullah added.

Abdullah Under ED Scanner

Abdullah, who has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with alleged scam in Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association, echoed similar views of the opposition parties that the federal probe agency was being used to target their leaders. “I am myself under the ED scanner. I will appear before them, I am not scared of the ED or anyone else. Let them do what they want. If they think they can finish off the National Conference by jailing Farooq Abdullah, it will not happen because the National Conference is a movement,” he said.

(with agency inputs)