The alliance partners Congress and the National Conference late Monday evening brokered a deal whereby both parties have decided to contest 85 seats in alliance while there will be a friendly contest on five Assembly segments in the upcoming Assembly polls beginning September 18.
The deal was struck at the end of several rounds of talks held between the team of Congress leaders which included AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal, Salman Khursheed, and Pawan Khera. JKPCC Chief Tariq Hamid Qarra was also part of the day-long negotiations. Addressing a joint press conference in Srinagar Congress leader KC Venugopal said, "We will fight together, we will win J&K. We will form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir..."
Commenting on the seat-sharing formula JKPCC Chief Tariq Hamid Qarra told reporters, "National Conference will contest on 51 seats, Congress on 32 and we have agreed to have a friendly but disciplined contest on 5 seats. Over and above these 88 seats, we have left 1 seat for CPI (M) and 1 seat for Panthers Party..."
Venugopal said, "BJP is trying to destroy the soul of Jammu and Kashmir. Our INDIA alliance's main objective is to save the soul of Jammu and Kashmir so that is why Congress and National Conference are coming together to make a Government in Jammu & Kashmir which is friendly with the people of J&K. We had a discussion in accordance and we entered into a formula which our leaders will share now. We will fight together, we will win J&K. We will form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir..."
National Conference President Farooq Abdullah said "It is a matter of great happiness that we started this campaign and both of us will fight together against those forces who are trying to divide people here. The whole country and INDIA alliance was formed so that we can fight those forces who want to communalise, divide and break the country. Today we have completed the negotiations and have done coordination in a very good cordial atmosphere. Congress and the National Conference will fight the elections together..."
