Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress on Monday announced its alliance with the National Conference in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. As part of the INDI alliance, both parties will contest on three seats each. Congress candidates will contest from Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh Lok Sabha seats and National Conference candidates will contest from Anantnag, Baramulla and Srinagar seats.
Congress, NC hold joint presser
At a joint press conference in New Delhi, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah confirmed the alliance between the two parties. "I want to formally announce that the National Conference and Congress will jointly contest the elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh with three candidates for each of the two parties," Abdullah said, "The National Conference will support Congress candidates in Udhampur, Jammu and Ladakh seats. The INDIA bloc with contest the polls to help fulfil the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh and truly represent them in Parliament," he added.
The seat-sharing agreement was finalised after consultations between the Congress and NC leaders. Member of the Congress seat sharing committee Salman Khurshid was also present during the joint press conference.
Is PDP still part of I.N.D.I.A bloc?
Asked whether PDP was still a part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc, Khurshid said, "PDP is in our alliance. Seat adjustment is one part of the alliance and an overall alliance is a different issue. Since Jammu and Kashmir is small in area, there is not much scope for seat adjustment despite our best efforts.
Meanwhile, the PDP has also named candidates for three seats in Kashmir, fielding Mehbooba Mufti against DPAP president Ghulam Nabi Azad in Anantnag. It should be noted here that the elections for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting on April 19. The counting of votes has been scheduled for June 4.
(With inputs from agencies)
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