NC in no mood to leave any Kashmir seat to ‘allies’

Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference (NC) of I.N.D.I.A bloc is underway, sources suggest that there are less chances the NC will leave any of the three Lok Sabha seats in the Kashmir Valley where it has already have its parliamentarians. A top source in NC said, “NC will not give up on the seats in valley no matter what. We will talk about the two seats in Jammu division and one seat in Ladakh. Even Ladakh, we don’t wish to give away as we have worked hard on this constituency as well. But we have to see the bigger picture.”

However chief spokesperson of NC, Tanvir Sadiq told The Sunday Guardian, “There have been couple of rounds of discussions. Talks are still going on. There is no hard and fast rule that we have to announce it according to somebody’s likings. It is about seats, it takes time. Both the parties have to take their cadre on-board. We also have a working committee meeting in a week. National Conference believes the three seats should remain with the NC as they are already with our party. We are fighting the NDA, and not the seats we as opposition have already won. As far as the three seats are concerned, they are already with I.N.D.I.A alliance.

Now it is the matter of discussion and final decision will be taken soon.” Besides, Congress in Jammu and Kashmir is said to have proposed a formula of one seat each in the valley to Congress, National Conference (NC) and PDP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Kashmir Valley has 3 LS seats, Jammu 2 and Ladakh 1. The understanding behind that is seen to be the projection of three parties becoming equal stakeholders in the Valley.

A senior Congress leader said, “If all the three parties get one seat each in the valley, there would be more sincerity among alliance partners. Moreover, with this, each party will be accommodated and every party’s vote share will be addressed.” Congress leaders suggest that NC is playing both ways, they are seen to be giving out divergent views. A senior Congress leader said, “They want alliance and they don’t want alliance. That is what the son and dad duo are projecting. Therefore all the confusion is from NC side. NC moreover has hegemonial view towards Kashmir and it doesn’t want that hegemony to break.”