National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Sunday said the pre-poll alliance with the Congress for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections was designed to prevent a hung House and provide voters with a clear option for governance.
Speaking at a shikara rally on Dal Lake in support of NC’s Zadibal candidate Tanvir Sadiq, Abdullah outlined the seat-sharing agreement, with the National Conference contesting 51 seats, Congress 32, and the CPI(M) one. In six constituencies, the NC and Congress will engage in a “friendly contest.”
“We could have waited for a post-poll alliance, but we formed this partnership ahead of the elections to avoid the uncertainty of a hung assembly. This way, the people are assured that a stable government will be formed,” Abdullah explained.
He went on to suggest that the BJP is hoping for a hung assembly, which would allow them to extend the lieutenant governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir. “The BJP wants a hung assembly to create an excuse to prolong the lieutenant governor’s rule, but the people won’t let that happen,” he added.
When asked about the BJP’s limited campaign presence in the Kashmir Valley, Abdullah said the party knows it has little to gain there. “The BJP has no base in Kashmir. They know they won’t get anything here. Their attitude towards Muslims is clear—16% of India’s population is Muslim, and yet the BJP hasn’t found a single person from this community worthy of being made a central minister, he alleged.
Abdullah further criticized the BJP’s frequent references to the “rule of three families” in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the party of using this rhetoric to distract from its failures over the past five years. “The BJP has nothing to show for Jammu and Kashmir. That’s why their leadership continues to target three political families instead of highlighting any achievements.”
He also expressed concern over the lower voter turnout in some parts of Kashmir compared to the 2014 elections, particularly in Noorabad (now D H Pora), where voter participation dropped by 20% from 80% in 2014. “The current government should reflect on why voter turnout has decreased despite their claims that everything is normal,” Abdullah remarked.
Commenting on Rahul Gandhi’s upcoming visit to Kashmir on Monday, the NC leader welcomed the move and encouraged the Congress leader to make more frequent visits.
“It’s good that Rahul Gandhi is coming. He should visit more often to challenge the BJP, especially where Congress candidates are contesting. The prime minister, home minister, and other senior BJP leaders have made multiple visits, and Rahul should do the same to boost party morale,” Abdullah suggested.
