NEW DELHI: NC cites Congress’ poor performance and historical maximum of six seats to justify not allocating more seats.
The Congress party is engaged in intense negotiations over seat allocation in Kashmir Valley, which has 47 assembly seats. In Jammu, the National Conference (NC) has agreed to a minor role, allowing Congress to contest approximately 30 seats. Jammu, with 43 assembly seats, and Kashmir together comprise a total of 90 seats across the Union Territory.
Sources indicate that Congress has earmarked about a dozen seats in Kashmir, aiming to secure as many as possible to satisfy local leadership. A Congress leader remarked, “If we don’t contest enough seats, many Congress leaders in the valley will become demotivated. To keep the cadre’s ambitions alive, we need at least a dozen seats.”
The NC justifies its reluctance to allocate more seats to Congress by citing recent performance trends. The regional party argues that Congress has historically won no more than six seats, suggesting it lacks the strength to secure additional wins.
Initial seat-sharing discussions have proposed 50 seats for the NC and 40 for Congress. However, senior leaders note that the agreement is not yet final, with over half a dozen seats, mostly in Kashmir, still unresolved.
Additionally, Congress lacks a strong cadre in the region, while the NC has a well-established election machinery. It is understood that the election will be fought with Rahul Gandhi’s prominence and the NC’s organisational strength. A Congress leader in Jammu pointed out that Congress also lacks robust cadre strength in Jammu, and the NC’s presence is weak. He added, “The NC has minimal stakes in Jammu, but Congress has significant ones. We will rely on intensive campaigning and address the public’s frustration with the lack of political representation.”
Another Congress leader stated, “The NC has exhibited hegemonic behaviour towards Kashmir and is reluctant to share space with others.
They believe PDP will appear weakest in the upcoming assembly results, potentially diminishing their influence and allowing the NC to regain dominance over the Valley narrative.”
Some national Congress leaders suggest that, with the current seat-sharing arrangement, Congress might win more seats in Jammu than in Kashmir, challenging the narrative pushed by the saffron camp that Congress is a Muslim party. The Jammu region, dominated by Hindus, contrasts with Kashmir Valley’s overwhelming Muslim majority.