SRINAGAR: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi visited J&K to finalise a pre-poll alliance with the National Conference (NC).
Omar Abdullah confirmed on Friday that NC and Congress have finalised candidates for most seats. Despite this alliance, it may not secure a clear mandate for either party, as J&K might again experience a fractured mandate. This outcome would mirror previous elections in 2002, 2008, and 2014, when post-poll alliances were necessary to form governments in Jammu and Kashmir.
Political activity is intense, with numerous prominent figures and former legislators joining parties like NC, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In the NC-Congress alliance, Omar Abdullah has hinted that the PDP will not be included.
If the political landscape remains unchanged, there will be a direct contest between NC and PDP for many Kashmir Valley seats, potentially dividing the opposition vote. In Jammu, the primary battle will be between Congress and BJP, with the NC-Congress alliance likely giving Congress an advantage in several Muslim-majority seats. The recent delimitation exercise added six assembly segments to the Jammu region, and the ST status for the Pahari community is expected to benefit BJP candidates in the hilly areas of Jammu. The PDP, led by Mehbooba Mufti, faces challenges in consolidating its position, with its vote share dropping to 8.5% in the recent parliamentary elections. In 2014, the PDP won 28 seats with a 23% vote share.
In the latest parliamentary elections, BJP and NC won two segments each, while independent candidate Engineer Rashid defeated NC Vice President Omar Abdullah in Baramulla.
In the evolving political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, many voters are seeking new parties and fresh ideas, particularly among the youth. Most assembly segments are expected to see four-cornered contests, making predictions of victory highly uncertain. If Engineer Rashid’s party contests multiple segments in North Kashmir, it could further complicate predictions.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi asserted “blood” ties with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and supported the restoration of statehood. Criticising the Modi government, Gandhi said, “We expected the restoration of statehood before the elections… but it is a step forward that elections have been declared.”