National Conference president and sitting Member of Parliament from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah, stirred controversy on Thursday by declaring that his party would go “solo” in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the Union Territory, thereby abandoning the Opposition INDIA bloc.
Thus far, the TMC, the AAP, and the JD(U) have distanced themselves from the INDIA bloc before engaging in conclusive seat-sharing talks.
Farooq’s announcement has severely weakened the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in Jammu and Kashmir, leaving the People’s Democratic Party, CPI, CPI(M), and Awami National Conference in a difficult position.
Earlier, in response to a specific question about the status of seat-sharing talks, Dr Farooq Abdullah unequivocally said that the National Conference would contest the polls based on its own merits without forming alliances with other political parties. “As for seat-sharing, I want to clarify that the National Conference will contest the elections based on its own strength. There is no room for debate on this matter,” Dr Abdullah asserted.
However, shortly after Farooq’s announcement, his son and party vice president, Omar Abdullah, issued a strong clarification, asserting that the National Conference remained a member of the INDIA bloc. He said, “We continue to remain a member of the INDIA bloc.”
At the same time, Omar firmly clarified that no formal talks have occurred with the Congress party regarding the seat-sharing formula. However, there have been informal dialogues, and there is potential for further discussion.
He stressed, “Our commitment to the INDIA alliance remains intact, despite the recent departure of founding members.”
He added, “We are not among those leaving. We will continue our discussions with the Congress party and hope to reach a seat-sharing understanding.”
Omar mentioned that out of the six Lok Sabha seats in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, three are already held by the INDIA Alliance. Talks are underway with the Congress regarding the three seats currently held by the BJP. Omar stated that if the primary goal is to reclaim seats from the BJP, then the National Conference is willing to engage in seat-sharing with the Congress. He emphasised that their doors are open. Omar clarified that Dr Abdullah’s remarks during the media interaction reflected the sentiment of the party cadre, who have long advocated for contesting elections independently in all constituencies.
Omar said, “Regarding the NDA, we are not a party that has our feet in multiple boats. Once we establish friendships, we remain loyal to those allies. I’m not sure why journalists are assuming our doors are open for the NDA, because they’re not.”
To rectify the damage, we cannot align with the NDA. Our entire campaign during that time will be directed towards holding the BJP accountable for their actions in Jammu and Kashmir.”
Earlier, in a telephone interview with a news channel, Dr. Farooq Abdullah also hinted at the possibility of rejoining the BJP-led NDA in the future.
When asked directly if his party was considering joining the NDA, Dr. Abdullah remained non-committal. He said, “This is just the beginning. Let’s wait and see what happens next. I cannot comment at this time.” However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to the NDA fold. Before concluding, Dr. Abdullah cryptically remarked, “We are a political party. We always keep ‘windows and doors open’. We must strengthen the nation, all sections of society, and all religions.”
During his conversation, Farooq also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir next week. “The Prime Minister’s visit is a positive development. He is expected to announce some projects.”
