National Conference (NC) president, Farooq Abdullah, announced today that his party has finalised an alliance with Congress for all 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir. The confirmation came following a meeting between Abdullah and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge at Abdullah’s residence.
“We had a good meeting in a cordial atmosphere. The alliance is on track and, God willing, it will run smoothly. The alliance is final. It will be signed this evening and the alliance covers all 90 seats,” Abdullah told reporters.
The announcement comes ahead of the three-phase Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1. The results will be declared on October 4.
Abdullah also mentioned the involvement of CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami in the alliance and expressed confidence in securing a significant victory. “I hope our people are with us too, and that we win with a huge majority to improve the lives of the people,” he said.
When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s earlier assurance that restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a priority for the Congress and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc, Abdullah expressed optimism. “Statehood is very important for all of us. This has been promised to us. This state has witnessed bad days, and we hope it will be restored with its full powers. For that, we stand together with the I.N.D.I,A. bloc,” he added.
This alliance sets the stage for a united opposition front as Jammu and Kashmir heads into its first Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 and the state’s reorganisation into a union territory in 2019.