Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s Key Visit to Jammu and Kashmir
Image credit: Moneycontrol
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge are currently on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. The purpose of their visit is to finalize a possible pre-poll alliance with the National Conference (NC) ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the region.
Pre-Poll Alliance Discussions: Meetings with Local Congress Leaders in Jammu
On the day of their visit, Wednesday, the Congress leaders will meet with local party leaders in Jammu. They are expected to discuss seat-sharing arrangements and other election strategies. The following day, Thursday, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge will travel to Kashmir to meet with the leadership of the National Conference.
K.C. Venugopal, the All India Congress Committee General Secretary, has confirmed that these meetings are crucial in preparing for the upcoming elections. The Congress and National Conference are currently allied at the national level as part of the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) coalition, which opposes the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Engagement with National Conference Leadership in Kashmir
Although NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah recently stated that there would be no pre-poll alliance with any political party, sources suggest that the Congress leadership decided to visit Jammu and Kashmir after the NC expressed interest in an alliance. Newly appointed Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra, who is currently in Jammu, has reiterated the Congress’s openness to forming alliances with any party that opposes the BJP’s policies. Karra also confirmed that the NC had approached Congress leaders about a possible alliance. He emphasized that the Congress is willing to join hands with any like-minded parties in both Jammu and Kashmir. The condition is that these parties should share a common opposition to the BJP.
In the most recent Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and NC had a pre-poll alliance. Congress contested three seats: two in the Jammu division and one in Ladakh, while the NC contested three seats in Kashmir. Despite this alliance, Congress lost all its seats, while the NC won two in Kashmir.
However, the Congress is hopeful about the upcoming Assembly elections. The party believes it can secure seats in the plains of Jammu and the Chenab Valley region, where there is significant public dissatisfaction with the BJP over issues like unemployment, rising prices, and lack of development.
Karra also highlighted that the Jammu region, which was once free of militancy, has recently seen an increase in militant activity. He pointed out that the center of militancy seems to have shifted from Kashmir to Jammu.
Preparing for the First Assembly Elections Post-Article 370 Abrogation
The Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be the first since the repeal of Article 370, which revoked the region’s special status, and the bifurcation of the state into two Union Territories. The elections will be held in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 4.
The notification for the first phase of polls has already been issued, and the last date for filing nominations is set for August 27. Given this tight timeline, Congress and other parties need to finalize their candidates quickly. It is expected that the Congress’s Central Election Committee will meet soon after the Screening Committee prepares a list of potential candidates.
While the Congress is eager to form an alliance with the NC, especially after the collapse of the Gupkar Alliance, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has not been included in the discussions, as the NC refused to accommodate it. The outcome of these discussions and the potential alliance between Congress and NC will significantly impact the upcoming elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Team Profile
- News Writer
- Sanchita is currently pursuing her master's in journalism and mass communication. She has already completed a PG diploma in journalism and mass communication from Patna Women's College and her graduation from Berhampur University. With a strong desire to become a journalist, she is focused on learning and enhancing her skills to excel in her chosen career.
Latest entries
English10 September 2024AAP-Congress Union Talks for Haryana Decisions Fall Flat Over Seat Sharing
English9 September 2024Jawhar Sircar Leaves from Rajya Sabha in the Midst of Debasement and Misusing Allegations
Defence8 September 2024Pakistan Army Admits Role in Kargil War for the First Time
English7 September 2024AAP-Congress Organization Together Faces Seat-Sharing Debate in Haryana Elections
