Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections

After a decade, assembly elections are set to be held in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress party and the National Conference (NC) have decided to join forces for these elections. This announcement was made by Farooq Abdullah, the NC chief and former Chief Minister, following a meeting with Rahul Gandhi.

Farooq Abdullah said, “We have finalized our decision to contest the elections together. We will decide on the seat-sharing formula later.” The Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge met with Farooq Abdullah, leading to the announcement of this alliance.

Seat-Sharing and Election Plans

Farooq Abdullah mentioned that the details of the seat-sharing agreement would be revealed before the first phase of voting. “Our meeting was successful, and the alliance is moving in the right direction. If everything goes as planned, we will finalize the papers by Thursday evening,” he said.

Focus on Jammu and Kashmir’s Statehood

Abdullah emphasized that restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is a priority for both Congress and the INDIA alliance. He expressed hope that Jammu and Kashmir would soon regain its full state status. “The state has faced difficult times, and we expect the promise of statehood to be fulfilled soon,” Abdullah added.

Rahul Gandhi’s Commitment

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi also spoke about his commitment to Jammu and Kashmir. He said, “Representing Jammu and Kashmir and restoring its statehood is very important. I have a deep connection with this place, and I hope people will support us in the elections.”

Common Program and Future Alliances

According to Farooq Abdullah, the common agenda for the alliance is to contest the elections and defeat divisive forces in the country. He did not rule out the possibility of future alliances with Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP. “We will first focus on the elections and then consider other options. We are not closing any doors,” Abdullah said.

Election Schedule

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections will be held in three phases. Voting for the first phase will be on September 18, the second phase on September 25, and the third phase on October 1. The results will be announced on October 4.