Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma strongly criticized the Congress party for forming an alliance with the National Conference (NC) ahead of the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. Sharma, addressing a press conference in Jaipur, accused Congress of betraying national unity and security for the sake of power.
Sharma condemned the alliance, saying, “The real character of Congress has been revealed today. The party, which has repeatedly jeopardized national unity and security for power, has now aligned with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir.” He questioned Rahul Gandhi about his stance on key issues such as the NC’s call for a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir and the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. Sharma challenged Gandhi to clarify whether he supports these positions of the National Conference, which had previously advocated for the return of these provisions.
Sharma further criticized Congress for potentially supporting the restoration of corruption. He stated, “The abrogation of Article 370 ended corruption in the region. Does Congress want to bring corruption back into the system? The National Conference misled the youth of Kashmir, and now, as the youth integrate into the mainstream, why is Congress obstructing their progress?” His remarks reflect the broader concerns about the impact of the alliance on governance and development in the region.
The Congress-NC pre-poll alliance was formalized following a meeting between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and NC leader Farooq Abdullah. The announcement came after Farooq Abdullah stated that the alliance would contest all 90 assembly seats in the upcoming polls. Abdullah confirmed the partnership in Srinagar, noting that the seat-sharing details would be released later. The alliance was solidified after discussions between Abdullah and his son Omar with Kharge and Gandhi. Abdullah expressed confidence that the coalition would perform well and address the needs of the people, emphasizing unity and cooperation.
The Congress-NC alliance follows their previous cooperation in the Lok Sabha elections, where the National Conference secured two seats—Anantnag and Srinagar—while Congress did not win any. The upcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to take place in three phases: September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results will be announced on October 4. This will be the first assembly election in the region since the abrogation of Article 370, which had previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Election Commission has issued a notification for the first phase, which will cover 24 seats. This election marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, with the newly formed alliance playing a crucial role in shaping the future governance of the region.